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This Thing Called Life is a podcast dedicated to acts of giving, kindness, compassion, and humanity. Host Andi Johnson introduces you to powerful organ, tissue, and eye donation stories from individuals, families, and front-line healthcare teams. These stories are meant to inspire and remind you that while life can be challenging and unpredictable, it’s also incredibly beautiful. We hope this podcast inspires you to connect with our life-saving and life-healing mission.
Episodes
Tuesday Mar 29, 2022
Tuesday Mar 29, 2022
On this episode of This Thing Called Life Podcast, host Andi is going to talk to Mr. Idris Gray, who will share his experience about kidney donation. Mr. Idris is extremely resilient, and he had some health challenges throughout his life, but he always maintained, “I can do it, don’t quit, push forward attitude.” Tune in now for his story.
Episode Highlights:
- Idris used to play football but didn’t maintain his lifestyle. Due to poor eating habits, family history, and sedentary lifestyle at the age of 16 he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
- At the age of 27, something wasn’t right about Idris’s body. One day at home, coming back from the office, he collapsed on the couch. The doctor at the hospital told him that he needed to control his diabetes and get more rest because he had acute kidney failure.
- The doctor told Idris that if he didn’t receive a kidney in two years, he would start dialysis, and he was right. Idris experienced other health conditions like diabetic retinopathy, which rendered him blind for three months. He was blessed to have surgery on his left eye, but his right eye is still gone.
- Idris also has a diabetic condition called diabetic circles, which is a deterioration of the midfoot joining the right foot.
- In July 2013, Idris received a phone call from the kidney and pancreas transplant department at UC, and they asked if he was ready for kidney transplant.
- This donation and transplantation journey isn’t like a linear path. Idris explains.
- Many times, the more we ignore the symptoms, the diseases grow into a bigger monster than they could have been before.
- Idris’s keypoint to share is prevention over intervention because you are going to have to deal with it, but you have a chance to stop it from forming complications.
- It took about a month and a half for Idris to recover from immune suppression and anti-rejection medications because those medications are extremely strong.
- We live in one of the wealthiest countries in the world, and people should not have to choose what they can pay for when it comes to medications that will keep them healthy.
- Creatinine is crucial in your body, created by the kidneys, and the higher the creatinine levels, the more prone that your kidney is to go through failure. Creatinine level 1,1.2, or 1.3 is a good range for kidney patients, but Idris’ level was about 3.4.
- In November 2019, Idris again started experiencing the major symptoms like itching of the skin, fatigue, swelling, and he started outpatient dialysis in March 2020, in the middle of the pandemic.
- There are certain blood tests you have to do, and you have to go through orientation, and there is a whole different process that you have to do just to become a candidate for another transplant.
- As humans, we tend to try to put our best foot forward for people to see, and when we are candid about certain things, it gives other people strength to be candid as well.
- Idris had parathyroid surgery, and many people don’t understand what parathyroids do, but it controls certain hormones in your body, including your calcium.
- Idris follows the law of divine oneness too. Everything is connected to everything elsewhere, and the same feeling and belief have a corresponding effect on others and the universe around us.
- Your health is wealth. If you are not feeling well or ever exhibiting any of the symptoms, please go and get tested.
3 Key Points:
- People tend to ignore symptoms that they are experiencing. In Idris’s situation, he ignored it out of fear and thinking that he didn’t have time for his health.
- Idris explains the process that one has to go through for a second kidney transplant.
- Your health is wealth. Idris often looks at other people’s situations and says, you know what, mine is not that bad. He knows he has to move on, and be an advocate for other people.
Resources Mentioned:
Tuesday Mar 22, 2022
Tuesday Mar 22, 2022
Tuesday Mar 15, 2022
Tuesday Mar 15, 2022
On this episode of This Thing Called Life, Andi is going to talk to Marty and Bonnie Garneret. Bonnie is not only Marty’s wife but his kidney champion also. Marty and his wife have been married for 41 years this month, and he says that has married an angel without wings. He shares his special journey; You don’t want to miss it!
Episode Highlights:
- There are two types of diabetes, type one, which you are born with, and in that, your body does not produce any insulin, so you are on insulin shots from the time you are born. The second type comes from heredity, bad eating, lack of exercise, or all the bad stuff you do - lifestyle factors.
- If the doctor says you are prediabetic, that means your sugar is running high regularly, and it is destroying your body. So, you need to get to a specialist or endocrinologist.
- It is not a disease to be taken lightly because it leads to chronic kidney disease, which Marty has. If you don’t pay enough attention to it, then you are graded on a scale of stage one to stage five transplant material, and that is where Marty is at 70 years of age.
- When you first start out with kidney disease, you are one of about 100 to 150,000 people on a list of possible recipients. Marty is lucky enough to meet a gal named Darcy Gibson, who has a foundation, a charitable organization, called Off The List, inc.
- To go through initial testing is a rigorous process. There are three different people you meet with. One is a social worker to check your mental capacity, the second is a nutritionist to manage your diet, and the third is a team of doctors and nurses that help you through tests.
- To get off the list, you have to receive a donor’s kidney, and Bonnie has done this through Facebook, through yard signs, emails, and extensive, unbelievable work this woman has done on Marty’s behalf.
- The list that Marty is talking about is a list to receive a deceased donor kidney. To get a living donor kidney, you must find someone willing to donate, a friend, a relative, or just a generous donor, and it is tough.
- It is a completely anonymous process, as someone is tested on your behalf. You would never know that because hospitals take that very seriously, and they want to ensure that the person who is doing this wants to do it for the right reasons and that there is no sense of pressure.
- Bonnie decided that UPPO would be perfect because people would have to ask a question and start the conversation. What is UPPO, or who is UPPO? Life for UPPO is a Facebook page, and we are working with Christ Hospital, and Trisha is the donor coordinator.
- The typical diabetic signs that Marty paid no attention to was he slept 12 hours and felt like he didn’t sleep 5 minutes. He drank unbelievable amounts of liquid, whether it be coffee, pop, water, and he lost a lot of weight.
- The diet you have to be on when looking for a kidney is extremely difficult. There are many things to avoid and take care of.
- There are two categories of people when it comes to the conversation about being a living donor. We need to do a better job of filling the gap of information and helping people understand this is something they can do.
- Children’s hospitals prefer to give it to children, and they should. But if something happened and there aren’t any children who would need it, then the adult on that list would receive a kidney.
- One of Marty’s dreams has always been that he would like to start in Maine and eat lobster all the way down the East Coast until they have to get an oversized bus to take him home.
- Marty looks good on the outside, but he’s not good on the inside, and that's what a lot of people don’t understand because he looks great. But they don’t understand that the kidney function is still going down, and you can’t see that.
- If people understood how grateful recipients were, it would cause a lot more people to donate because they are heroes and become angels without wings.
- Bonnie has read a lot on the national kidney Instagram page and other places that donors live longer than people who have not donated.
3 Key Points:
- Marty and Bonnie tell the listeners about the Facebook page they set up for people. The Facebook page is called life for UPPO. UPPO is Marty just because their oldest grandson when he was very young, can’t say Grandpa, and he came out with UPPO.
- Marty doesn’t think people understand how serious this disease is, and it will kill you. Many thousands of people die every day from kidney failure, and several things work against you.
- Marty and Bonnie talk about the misconception surrounding kidney donation.
Resources Mentioned:
- LifeCenter | Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube| Twitter
- Andi Johnson website |LinkedIn
- Organ Donation Website
- https://www.facebook.com/life4uppo
- Tricia Monson Christ Hospital Donor Coordinator 513-585-1440
- Marty and Bonnie Garneret
- Off the list inc, Darci Gibson
Tuesday Mar 08, 2022
Tuesday Mar 08, 2022
Community Heroes is a special extension of This Thing Called Life’s podcast. In this series we talk to community leaders, share important information about organ and tissue donation and honor those who have been instrumental in saving lives through the gift of donation.
Resources:
https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH
Life Center Phone # 513-558-5555
For more information visit: http://nkf.org/
Tuesday Mar 01, 2022
Tuesday Mar 01, 2022
On this episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi Johnson is talking with Sandra Wright. Sandra is a transplant survivor and the founder of The Greater Cincinnati African American Heart Association. She is back on the podcast today to discuss the importance of understanding organ donation because it extends life. Don’t miss it!
Episode Highlights:
- Andi encourages the listeners to be educated about what organ donation is and how it impacts all of us.
- March is National Kidney Month. Andi shares a few helpful ways to keep your kidneys healthy like staying healthy and fit, monitoring your blood sugar, monitoring your blood pressure, monitoring your weight, and more.
- Delaying and denying when something is off with your body does you no good. Everyone should be as proactive with their health as possible.
- Did you know that African Americans make up the majority of people on the National waiting list for kidney transplants. Research shows that african americans may carry a gene that creates a higher salt sensitivity which increases the risk of high blood pressure and heart disease.
- Last time on the podcast, Sandra shared her story of being a heart transplant survivor. If you missed it, go back and listen! (Episode 40)
- Andi asks Sandra, “Why do you think so many African Americans remain opposed to organ donation?
- Sandra shares when she had heart failure what changed for her in her thinking on the path she was on.
- Andi asks Sandra, “Was registering to be a donor ever talked about around the time you were getting your license?”
- In the times we live in, we are now inundated with information. Andi and Sandra share how everyone should take an active role in their health. We have to embrace how precious our lives are and do everything we can to be present.
- How do we begin the conversation about generational health?
- Andi discusses the criteria for being able to go with organ donation from a donor.
- Sandra encourages listeners to take this podcast seriously and if you want to, go do some of your own research.
- Have you thought about the ability to help others even after you yourself transition?
- Andi asks Sandra to talk about her organization, The Greater Cincinnati African American Heart Association. She feels an obligation and is so honored to share information from traveling the journey herself in a real way. She spreads awareness with authentic truth.
- Today, over 106,380 people are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant and more than 3,000 are in need of heart transplants.
3 Key Points:
- March is National Kidney Month. It is important to know how to keep your kidneys healthy and the warning signs that they are not.
- Sandra Wright is a heart transplant survivor who shares her story to educate and give hope to others. She shares about barriers, lack of access, and the importance of understanding your heritage and family history.
- There are so many lies mixed in with a little truth that circulates in the community about organ donation and creates mistrust and opposition. Knowledge is key. Get educated about the topic and take a proactive role in your health.
Resources Mentioned:
- LifeCenter | Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube| Twitter
- Andi Johnson website |LinkedIn
- Organ Donation Website
- Sandra Wright |swright.gcaaha@gmail.com |513-484-4772
- The Greater Cincinnati African American Heart Association
Wednesday Feb 23, 2022
Wednesday Feb 23, 2022
Community Heroes is a special extension of This Thing Called Life’s podcast. In this series we talk to community leaders, share important information about organ and tissue donation and honor those who have been instrumental in saving lives through the gift of donation.
Resources:
https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH
Life Center Phone # 513-558-5555
Tuesday Feb 15, 2022
Tuesday Feb 15, 2022
On this episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi Johnson is talking with Sandra Wright. She has a special testimony to share. The goal of this podcast is to help listeners understand what organ donation is and isn’t and how it truly impacts others. February is Black History Month and American Heart Month. Sandra is a transplant survivor and the founder of The Greater Cincinnati African American Heart Association. Tune in now for her special story!
Episode Highlights:
- Sandra is a heart transplant recipient. In 2014, she contracted a virus that was never named but lingered and left her with a side effect of shortness of breath. Later that year, she was on vacation when it all kind of climaxed.
- She shares her story of going to the hospital and the dire state she was in. She was told she had Heart Failure but she went into immediate denial. She cautions the listeners against denial because then you don’t do what you need to do.
- There will be a book coming out to tell Sandra’s full story in the future to help many.
- Christ Hospital in Cincinnati set her on the path of her life being saved.
- Prior to Sandra’s visit at Christ Hospital, every two months she would go for maintenance care to control the edema but other than that she wouldn’t take the medicine or change her lifestyle until 2017 when her heart would no longer serve her.
- Sandra shares how her faith got her through the scary time of being in need of a heart.
- The Greater Cincinnati African American Heart Association was created by Sandra to help provide others support, to create a community where they feel respected, heard, and understood. She shares about the services and her vision for down the road.
- For those who hear they have CFH, Congestive Heart Failure, that is all they are going to think about and can come unexpectedly and at vulnerable times.
- Andi shares how the healthcare system is not accessible for all and how detrimental it is for many, especially people of color.
- Sandra shares a sad story of talking with her granddaughter who said she ‘hated being black’ and how that ideology fuels her heart and mission to create an environment of support for the African American Community.
- Andi asks Sandra to share any encouraging thing she is experiencing or new strength she sees in the community.
- Andi reminds listeners that today, 106,494 people are waiting for life saving organ transplants and more than 3,400 need heart transplants. Can you think about your decision to be a donor and save a life?
3 Key Points:
- Sandra shares a shocking story of her journey with heart failure and the danger of being in denial of the diagnosis.
- The African American community is at the highest risk and has the greatest fatality which led Sandra to create The Greater Cincinnati African American Heart Association as a community of support.
- Sandra shares that living 65 years in this world, we are beginning to understand the necessity of working together and supporting each other. That is encouraging and exciting.
Resources Mentioned:
- LifeCenter | Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube| Twitter
- Andi Johnson website |LinkedIn
- Organ Donation Website
- Sandra Wright |swright.gcaaha@gmail.com |513-484-4772
- The Greater Cincinnati African American Heart Association
Tuesday Feb 08, 2022
Tuesday Feb 08, 2022
Community Heroes is a special extension of This Thing Called Life’s podcast. In this series we talk to community leaders, share important information about organ and tissue donation and honor those who have been instrumental in saving lives through the gift of donation. In this episode we talk about the importance of heart health.
Resources:
https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH
Life Center Phone # 513-558-5555
Tuesday Feb 01, 2022
Tuesday Feb 01, 2022
On this episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi Johnson is talking with E. Denise Peoples. She is a comedian, actress, singer, writer, producer, radio host, and motivational speaker. She is a double lung transplant recipient, and most importantly, she is a Christian. African Americans are at a higher risk of heart disease. Research suggests that African Americans may carry a gene that makes them more salt sensitive, which increases the risk of high blood pressure and heart disease. Tune in for her story and great knowledge.
Episode Highlights:
- In December 2000, while coming from the second floor of the house, Denise was short of breath, which lasted until February. She went to her primary doctor, and she was treated for pneumonia but nothing got better.
- Denise got diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), which at that time was an older white male smoker’s disease. The only alternative is a lung transplant or double lung transplant as this disease progresses.
- After being selected for a play audition and receiving health-related confirmation from a pulmonologist, Denise learned a lot about her body and herself while in Paris.
- When they came home at the end of 2003, things just started going down, and the disease was progressing so fast. Denise ended up on oxygen 24 hours a day.
- One night around 10 o’clock Denise told her manager that she was so tired of living like this. Soon she had a call from the hospital and they said, “Miss Peoples, we’ve got lungs, we need you to get to the hospital.”
- The next day after surgery, Denise woke up and felt her face, but the nurse asked, “Are you looking for the cannula? She said it’s there, but you are breathing on your own.” These are the absolute best words she had heard in years.
- Andi asks Denise, “You are with New Jersey Sharing Network, which procures organs and tissue for transplant, and they have 57 OPO’s throughout the country. How did you end up there?
- Andi asks, “What do you believe is the reason why African Americans don’t register or think about being a living kidney donor?
- For COVID vaccination, many of us refuse to be vaccinated because of distrust. We want to roll the dice and do something different, and we are just seeing that’s not working, says Denise.
- When Denise got to the emergency room for the Covid swab test, sitting there and waiting for hours was the worst experience because she wondered, “Why do you have a lung transplant patient sitting with everybody else?”
- Once Denise returned home after 21 days in the hospital, she was doing good, was never on oxygen, and was always at room temperature. Her oxygen levels never went under 90. But her body was stiff, and she focused on getting her strength back.
- Andi asks, “
- As we believe in organ and tissue donation, how can we change the narrative around African Americans for kidney donation and this skepticism?
- We need to give a platform to talk about what people believe for themselves and what does your faith tell you because many faith leaders who are opposed to donation would be surprised once they dig into their word and see what it sets, says Andi.
3 Key Points:
- Denise is a Community services specialist with the NJ sharing network. She goes into all types of communities to discuss organ and tissue donation and dispel myths and misconceptions.
- When tested positive for Covid, Denise felt a knee joint pain that she hadn’t ever felt. And after two days, her hand and shoulder started swelling, and then her left-hand knuckle. After that, she was not able to walk or text.
- Denise suggests that we have to continue to spread education about donation in this world before families ever hit the ICU. The community needs those stories. Stop being so secretive that you have kidney problems.
Resources Mentioned:
Friday Jan 28, 2022
Friday Jan 28, 2022
Community Heroes is a special extension of This Thing Called Life’s podcast. In this series we talk to community leaders, share important information about organ and tissue donation and honor those who have been instrumental in saving lives through the gift of donation.
Resources:
https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH