This Thing Called Life

Episode 74: The Incredible Journey Of Receiving A Kidney

Episode 74: The Incredible Journey Of Receiving A Kidney

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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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

Episode 73: Why Is Kidney Disease So Prevalent In The African American Community

On this episode of This Thing Called Life Podcast, host Andi Johnson is going to talk to Shelly Sherman and Stephanie Jackson. They are discussing kidney health and an exciting new project that is being launched to shed light on kidney disease as well as prevention. No doctor or medical expert will kill you for your organs; In fact, no medical professional is aware of your donor status until your death is declared. Tune in for more information!

Episode Highlights: 

 

• Host Andi Johnson has a few big asks. Will you join us and be a part of this interconnected life sustaining community by registering to be an organ, eye, and tissue donor? Will you make the commitment to become more educated about living donation and championing the donation cause?
• Shelly is associated with the Cincinnati, Ohito chapter of The Links, Incorporated and she served as the Health and Human Services Facet Committee chair.
• The Ohio central chapter was granted an award by Baxter International for increasing the awareness of kidney health in the communities in which Shelly lives and primarily in the African American community.
• What is GFR? Shelly has been working hard in the community to make sure people know where they are regarding their GFR, which lets them know how well their kidneys are functioning and what they can do to maintain kidney health.
• The Links organization was founded in 1946 on the premise of friendship, and Shelly wants to uplift and elevate people by providing health information.
• Stephanie and Shelly first met through collaboration with The Center For Closing the Health Gap. 
• Shelly had goals in mind based on the grant they received regarding the number of people that they needed to touch and the number of community partnerships that they needed to do.
• Shelly and Stephaine share the experiences they have had with training sessions and connecting in the community. They hope people will continue to listen to the podcast and continue doing some things and spreading the word in their communities.
• When people are ill, you can see it on their skin and eyes. You can notice the effects of kidney and liver illness on the skin and other body systems.
• Garlic is great for decreasing inflammation; It has Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, and Manganese, a great alternative for your seasoning. If you want to decrease your psyllium, you can add more garlic, which is great for your heart and your kidney.
• The one thing is to avoid canned and packaged chicken breast because those can contain sodium and other preservatives.
• Raising awareness and making small changes goes such a long way in promoting healthier lifestyles. There is a great ripple effect too when you share information like this with those in your family and circles. 

3 Key Points:

1. Blueberries are an important food for kidney patients. They serve as antioxidants and are very good for healing. In addition, they help your body to increase urination.
2. People talk about dialysis and transplant, and these are things that you want to avoid. By opting for a healthier lifestyle and changes in the food you eat, you can do that. 
3. There are so many ways you can just move your body, and Stephanie always tells people 15 to 20 minutes is sufficient. Make sure that your body is doing something that it doesn’t do every day.

Tweetable Quotes:

• “Whatever we are putting in our body, the body is going to use, and if we don’t put in things that our body can use, then our body is not going to be able to function the way it’s supposed to.” – Stephaine
• “Your body does need fat but only healthy fats because it helps everything stay lubricated and work well in all facets.” – Stephaine
• “So much of what happens to us is preventable, and a lot of it is due to a lack of information that is sometimes missed in our community.” – Shelly
• “Sometimes, we do have a mistrust of the medical systems, and we don’t get some of the information that we need to have, but we can share it and start to educate each other.” - Shelly

 

Resources Mentioned:

• LifeCenter | Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube|  Twitter
• Andi Johnson  website |LinkedIn 
• Organ Donation Website
• https://www.cincinnatilinks.org/black-kare-initiative
• https://www.facebook.com/CincinnatiLinks
• https://www.instagram.com/cincinnatilinks/
• https://www.yoursweetestlife.com/
• https://www.facebook.com/yoursweetestlifewithstephaniej
• https://www.instagram.com/yoursweetestlifewithstephaniej/

Community Heroes- El mes nacional de Done Vida- EP 50

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://lifepassiton.org/

https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH

Life Center Phone # 513-558-5555

Episode 72: It’s National Donate Life Month, Lets Make A Difference For Those In Need!

Episode 71: National Kidney Month with Mike McConnell

March is National Kidney Month. On this episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi Johnson talks with Mike McConnell about kidney health and community outreach.

 

 

 

 

Resources:

https://lifepassiton.org/

https://lifepassiton.org/board-of-directors-leadership/

https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH

https://www.youtube.com/user/LifeCenterOH

https://aopo.org/

Community Heroes- Riñónes y Mujeres Hispanas En Marzo-EP 49

 

 

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://lifepassiton.org/

https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH

https://www.instagram.com/lifecentercincy/

https://www.youtube.com/user/LifeCenterOH

https://twitter.com/LifeCenterCincy

Episode 70: Kidney Donor’s Health And Serendipitous Career Path, Post Surgery With Brett Milam

March is National Kidney Month. On this episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi Johnson talks with someone who saw a vital need and acted on it in regards to living kidney donation, Brett Milam. Tune in to hear his journey as a living kidney donor.

Episode Highlights:

• Andi previews National Kidney Month and the importance of education. Kidney disease, diabetes is often referred to as the silent killer. 
• There are more than 37 million Americans who have Kidney disease and high blood pressure which often leads to kidney failure.
• More than 90,000 people are waiting for a life-saving kidney transplant.
• To get more information about kidney health and prevention, please visit lifepassiton.org or nkf.org today.
• Guest, Brett Milam, shares when he first thought about kidney donation. He saw a fellow journalist through Instagram who made it seem really doable.
• Andi asks Brett to talk about the process to become a donor. He went through UC Medical Center. 
• Brett says you don't pay anything to be a living donor and the commitment was not overwhelming. The Medical Center even reimbursed his parking tickets.
• Andi talks about the safeguards in place for routes of discrimination.
• How long do you need to be off work?
• Brett shares what it feels like when your organs are reconfiguring after surgery.
• Brett has visited dialysis centers and talks about what it is like.
• What if your family needs a kidney after you have previously donated?
• The fall after his surgery he went skydiving for the second time in his life. He talks about the drawal to do it.
• He overcame his fear of public speaking to champion this cause and in 2022, Brett decided to work for Life Center.
• Andi asks Brett to talk about mental health. He had a personal journey with depression that he navigated through and what helped him overcome.
• What is talk therapy?
• If you are struggling with mental health, Brett has advice for you. He said do not fear telling your primary care physician that you are struggling mentally. You may have to go through different therapists and/or medications but it is very worth it.
• Andi talks about recognizing managing new normal after covid and how Life Center decided to offer counseling to their staff.
• Brett loves to read. He talks about what he enjoys reading. He recently read Stranger In The Woods.
• Brett did not know who his donor recipient was but it was still such a fulfilling experience.
• Andi reminds listeners that there are 103,933 men women and children who need life saving organ transplants. What can you do to help?

 

3 Key Points:

1. March is National Kidney Month. Many Americans have kidney disease and high blood pressure which often leads to kidney failure which then in turn requires dialysis or kidney transplant. It is important to be educated to be out in front of the disease in prevention.
2. Brett Milam shares that it was a simple calculation for him to decide to be a living kidney donor. 
3. Life Center’s mission and purpose drew Brett in. He thought he would work in journalism forever until a perfect turn of events led him to use his skills for this specific organization.

 

Resources:

https://lifepassiton.org/

https://lifepassiton.org/board-of-directors-leadership/

https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH

https://www.youtube.com/user/LifeCenterOH

https://aopo.org/

Episode 69: What You Need To Know About Kidney Disease?

On this episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi Johnson highlights March as National Kidney Month.  Kidney disease is often referred to as the “silent killer” because so many people have experienced it and complications that cause it without knowing it for an extended period of time. Tune in so you can be educated about this important topic and proactive with your own health. 

 

Episode Highlights:

• Do you know what Kidney health is?
• Do you understand your family history as it relates to kidney disease?
• Andi says, “More than 37 million Americans have kidney disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes, all of which lead to kidney failure often.” What does that mean?
• More than 90,000 people in the US are waiting for life saving kidney transplants.
• Andi lists the signs of kidney disease and encourages the listeners to visit nkf.org for more information.
• How can you create generational health?
• In Cincinnati, LifeCenter is working with The Links Incorporated and Closing The Health Gap and will be holding their first ever forum on this issue of diabetes and kidney disease. 
• Andi says they have seen an increase in children being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and that is the wrong way to be trending.
• Andi says the partnership forum will open the conversation for physicians and others who have been through the experience so that everyone can be educated to take steps they need to for generational health.
• You can find out more about Closing the Health Gap at https://closingthehealthgap.org/
• There will be a lot  more content coming on the podcast this year. For previous episodes visit https://lifepassiton.org/

Tweetable Quotes:

• “More than 37 million Americans have kidney disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes, all of which lead to kidney failure often.” -Andi
• “More than 90,000 people in our country are waiting for life saving kidney transplants.” -Andi
• “This is a great month to start the conversation about kidney health and understand if this may impact you.” -Andi

Resources:

 https://closingthehealthgap.org/

https://www.kidney.org/

https://aopo.org/

https://lifepassiton.org/

https://lifepassiton.org/board-of-directors-leadership/

https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH

https://www.youtube.com/user/LifeCenterOH

Episode 68: Role Of Executive Director For An OPO, With Barry Massa

On this episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi Johnson finishes up the series of exploring all the parts and roles in the donation process at the OPO. There is one final position to cover, the Executive Director of Life Center, held by Barry Massa. He is also President of the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO). Tune in.

 

Episode Highlights:

• Donation truly takes a community. Andi reviews how many entities come together to make everything happen.
• Barry Massa is the Executive Director of Life Center and has had that position since June of last year.
• Life Center is part of 56 Organ Procurement Centers across the United States; 48 of those are members of the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO). Barry explains what AOPO does.
• Andi asks why some centers aren’t a part of AOPO.
• Andi asks Barry what some of his biggest challenges are.
• “The whole donation and transplantation system has been under the microscope as of late”, says Barry.
• Barry talks about their positive outlook and taking on the focus to a more proactive stance and educating where misinformation is happening. 
• The National Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine was asked by Congress to do a  research study on the entirety of the donation and transplantation system which was reported in February 2022. Barry talks about the results 
• Some people who need to be on the transplant list are not because of one reason or another. Barry explains.
• An executive order by former President Trump addressing issues with transplants and encouraging more transplants to occur stirred the change. Barry said it started as a Kidney Health Initiative.
• Barry talks about the trends over the last 5 years. He also talks about taking a systematic approach to ensure that organs are used and don’t have to be discarded.
• What changes do hospitals need to have?
• What government agencies need to come together to dialogue more change? 
• What does donation and transplantation look like in the next 5 years?
• Andi asks Barry to share the biggest misconceptions he hears.
• Andy defines Barry as a bridge builder who desires to do the very best he can to improve everything.

3 Key Points:

1. Barry explains how AOPO works and the beauty of working together to save lives.
2. Every OPO has looked to see what they can do better. Organ donations and organs transplanted have gone up over the last 5 years and many are working to continue that.
3. In 5 years, Barry envisions a much more cohesive donation and transplantation system that allows more people to get transplanted.

 

 

Resources:

https://aopo.org/

https://lifepassiton.org/

https://lifepassiton.org/board-of-directors-leadership/

https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH

https://www.youtube.com/user/LifeCenterOH

Community Heroes: El mes del corazon y la historia negra- EP 48

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://lifepassiton.org/
https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH
Life Center Phone # 513-558-5555