Kidney Championing

The Sassistas! would like to acknowledge and thank Carolyn for dishing today's sass.

"Have you ever seen a kidney walk?" read the orange print on the t-shirt of a toddler.  And beneath, a red kidney sprinted, arms pumping, a bead of sweat on furrowed brow. 

The kidney reminded me of a plump Oscar Meyer wiener with a friendly face, making it difficult to swallow my morning coffee.  Next a team of walkers appeared with dogs in tow, all streaming purple boas from their necks.  They were an enthusiastic, motivated team, while me and my small entourage hopped from foot to foot and  brayed about the gusty cold wind that was whipping the bay.  It was unseasonably cold in a town that don't do cold all that well.  A drizzly rain fell, not a beautiful day to beckon walkers to the first annual Kidney Walk for this area held this past Sunday. I wondered where the heck the sunshine was, the pink (or kidney-color) ribbons, the interested passers-by, but it was not to be.  It was a small turn-out, most people figuring since they'd raised their money, actually attending the walk in the rain was a no-go. 

The DJ was a fan of the 80's stuff (which better-half loved), and he knew how to work nearly 150 walkers.  He had some good speakers to blow, too, and even when the wind changed directions I could hear the music fine and clear.  I wondered what the people in the fancy surrounding townhouses thought, but he rocked it out.  An air horn blew and we began the course.  When you're cold and start sudden movement, I've learned that your knees squeak like the Tin Man's no matter what kind've fancy running shoes you got on.  So, I squeaked through the whole course once and then again, while better-half ran around me chattering like a pre-schooler on ritalin.  Thank God the rest of the lot, even the purple boa people, were creakers like me.

It was fun!  I'm already signed up to draw blood in a free screening clinic that the money we raised will provide in February.  Got my entourage to volunteer for other things, too.  Kidney disease, compared to some of the more publicized health issues, is a low-profile, unglamorous problem.  The availability of dialysis does not foster a sense of urgency when it comes to finding more suitable treatment or obtaining government funding . . . or even raising money for a kidney walk.  Most people don't realize that having dialysis is comparable to living in an iron lung: you are tethered until the day you die, or someone else dies and you're at the top of the list of 80,000 waiting for a cadaver kidney.  Altruistic donation still isn't fully embraced as the option that's so critically needed.  Hopefully that will change as we provide more education.
 
I'm so sure that most of you have a cause that you champion, whether for animals, famine relief, the environment, health issues, or legislative ones.  I'd like to hear about it, and how you came to choose it (or how it chose you).  And I bow in thanks to the sistas who gave money to my walk.  There's something about a walk that made it easier for me to ask for money, and the response, I think, is greater if people think that you're putting some effort behind the issue you're promoting.  Don't know why that is.

Thanks to Flann for letting me get the word out.  Ya'll save your spare change, I'll be asking for it about this time next year, too!

To read Carolyn's post detailing her experience about donating a kidney, click here.

Comments

[Flannista]

Thank you for what babysis would call a “feel-good” post, Carolyn. I would say your participation in this walk was another form of ministering or as half-a-sista prefers, “The Golden Rule.” You give an eloquent voice to what you term an “unglamorous problem.” Your writing makes it beautiful.

(SECOND attempt to post, geez louise.)

[Flannista]

In the past, I have raised money to walk for AIDS and MS research -- because both of those causes hit close to home.

I love to give money to those who walk for causes like Carolyn did. I have other friends who do the CROP walk annually, or the Susan B. Komen walk for Breast Cancer. This year, I welcomed the opportunity to help babysis' sons walk and/or run (I can't remember) laps to raise money for their school. I think walking is fun and contributing to those who are, as Carolyn writes, "putting some effort behind the issue" hooks me.

[Flannista]

I also want to thank Carolyn for monitoring the sass today as I am at the last minute, flying to Orlando to assist TRM in a speech he is delivering this Saturday. I’m scheduled to be with him for 8 hours beginning at 1 pm. Anyone want to donate money per hour? (I’m completely kidding!)

Thanks for keeping the ‘sphere hoppin’. I’ll check in when I can from TRM’s boardroom.

[Flannista]

One last thing: Carolyn donated a kidney to a stranger earlier this year. If it had been me, I would think that donation gets me off the charity hook for the rest of my life. That it propelled Carolyn deeper into the cause is inspiring.

[Flannista]

My knees creak like the Tin Man’s, too, except ALL the time.

[babysis]

Oh, this was so worth the wait. Carolyn, you do justice to promoting this cause in so many ways. Makes we want to do the walk with you next year. I paid far more attention recently when a friend told me her relative was having a rare heart and kidney transplant. He is still in the hospital, but doing well and is very thankful. His donor obviously had to die first, but you gave up one kidney in advance.

I too love the way you wrote about it, and can hear and picture the whole thing. I think the walk does something for the donors too, as it gave you a chance to keep participating.

[babysis]

Unfortunately, I may be gone most of the daylight hours today, but will check back in later.

I give to almost anything like this if someone just asks me. Have done a few breast cancer walks, but in some ways just because my husband works with cancer patients. It always raised my awareness and compassion though. Now that I have friends with breast cancer, it makes me even more happy to help.

[Flannista]

Thanks for sassing in before your day takes off, babysis. Speaking of taking off, my flight has been delayed. I may walk to Orlando.

[Carolyn]

Thanks for taking the time to comment, babesis. I would so love for you to do the walk with me next year! In fact, can you imagine a 'sassistas' kidney walk team?! Flann with her uncombed hair, every inch the poet, babsis with her warm-syrup voice, I could assign every sista and mista a role, actually. Both of you are such dear friends of mine, thank you for your support of the whole kidney saga.
I never knew that donating the kidney wouldn't exit me off the charity stage, figured I'd take my bow and leave but it hasn't worked out that way. I hate that this disease is the poor stepchild when it comes to fund-raising, and I'll continue to champion it.
I know the character of the sassosphere, and know how deeply each one of you cares about certain social issues near and dear to your heart. I hope that everyone will post today, and share with the sphere those issue....
Also hope that babesis will come back on when she can. Her boys were involved in a walk/run/dance event not so long ago that I hope she'll describe to you.
Flann, you gone yet?

[Flannista]

Nope, still here. Hair still not combed.

[Carolyn]

Well, at least I can be comforted by the 'sure thing'. Unpredictable airline schedules and your uncombed hair.

[half-a-sista]

Listen, TypePad, just because Flann is going out of town, don't think you can get away with this crap today. Now behave yourself or I'm sending you to the cyber-junkyard where you belong.

[half-a-sista]

Flann, maybe the hand of God has squashed the flight to the Mouse House and TRM.

Carolyn, great post. Kidney disease isn't a high-profile cause. The two people I know who have regular dialysis treatments don't ever talk about their disease or their treatments. In part, I think it's because the treatments have become a part of their lives.

It gives me the impression that kidney disease is no big thing, but I know that isn't true from my disability training and background. Thanks for making us more aware.

[Jerseysista]

I love that line, "while better-half ran around me chattering like a pre-schooler on ritalin." I can just picture it. Did all that extra energy generate additional revenue for the cause?

[Jerseysista]

Babysis has a warm-syrup voice?

[Carolyn]

Thanks, half-a for posting today. I suppose that once you've gone to dialysis year after year, it does becomes a part of your life that you simply deal with in order to live the other half. My recipient spoke repeatedly, though, of her weariness with the treatment, how sick and exhausted she felt afterwards, and the warehouse atmosphere of the dialysis centers, where they shuttle their clients in & out as quickly and impersonally as possible. Travelling was a problem, as her treatment had to be taken into consideration. She said that she only felt as if she had half of a life, as the other half was about her treatment, and suffering through the after effects. I didn't know that your background included disability training---was that by choice or necessity? You're probably more keenly aware than most of the services the disabled need most...

[Jerseysista]

I know someone who is a kidney transplant recipient and is doing well now for 15 years. But it was hell for her while on dialysis. Between the visits she would progressively feel worse and worse, turning more yellow with each passing hour. Transplants are life-changing. Thanks for a great post, Carolyn.

[Carolyn]

Thanks, Jerse! It's difficult to fully appreciate what people who need dialysis go through, I think. The clock begins ticking as soon as your treatment ends. Your body, from that moment on, begins to poison itself as it is incapable of removing waste products from your bloodstream. As these toxins build, everything in your body begins to be placed under the strain of not being able to operate efficiently. By the time you have your next dialysis treatment your body is full of waste that it cannot rid itself of.

[Carolyn]

Oh yeah, Jerse. Babesis has a warm-syrup voice!! Haven't you ever felt it pour all over you?

[Flannista]

Still on the f#cking tarmac. Unbelievable.

[Jerseysista]

Poison building up in your system, Flann?

[Carolyn]

hahahaha!! good one, jerse. Unfortunately, Flann can't pour more poison into her system with a bloody mary or two. Got to be sharp today!!

[Flannista]

Yes, it is, particularly as I am seated next to a racist who told me Tiger Woods new name was "Cheetah" and that he loved Glenn Prick. Unbelievable.

[Carolyn]

I have a fear of being stuck on the tarmac for, like, 8 hours or so. And the toilets getting all full....and the air getting stale and heavy with exhaled germs....and my seatmate droning on and on about some something other...and the cabin walls shrinking around me.... and my vision going all askew like that Alfred Hitchcock film 'Vertigo'...and beginning to have an unprecedentedly profound hot flash, the sweat pouring off my forehead in great plops into my lap.....
Hope nothing like that happens to you, Flann.

[Sharon McCluskey]

Caroyn - even tho I don't know you, I want to say thank you for your generous gift. My hubby was the recipient of such a gift 10 years ago when he received a donor heart. That family's gererosity has allowed him to witness his daughters' graduations, one's marriage, and the birth of 4 grandchildren. It also allowed me another 10 years with my best friend. Thank you again and also for your efforts to raise awareness.