Kidney Solutions

A Network of Transplant Experience

Do you have a story you would like to share?  blog@kidneysolutions.org to submit for consideration.

Tom Ottmann Kidney Transplant Warrior and Organ Donation Advocate

By Jim Myers I recently did a Broadcast on Kidney Stories 2, with Kidney Transplant Warrior and Organ Donation Advocate,  Tom Ottman. Tom And FSGS In 1997, Tom was diagnosed with FSGS The first hint of ESRD came from a routine annual physical.  Tom managed to avoid dialysis for the next 16 years before his first of 2 preemptive kidney transplants by eating a sensible kidney friendly diet. (FSGS)  In 2011, he was put on the kidney transplant list and after 2.5 years he was transplanted. He did face many obstacles to transplant including 6 calls as an alternate before

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Gwendolyn Westlund Is My Hero

I recently did a Streamyard Broadcast with Gwendolyn Westlund on World Kidney Day. She is a Cancer Survivor,  a Blood Recipient,  a Heart Transplant Patient, a Recycled Life Warrior, a Kidney Transplant Candidate and a Speaker & Advocate! Link to the Broadcast. Gwen’s Journey Begins with Hodgkin’s Gwen ‘s journey began back in 2002 when she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma at the age of 21. She was successfully treated with radiation therapy, sending her cancer into remission a year after her diagnosis. Issues With Her Heart This was just the start of a long list of health issues for

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Charles Pecoraro is Seeking A Kidney Donor

Recently, I did a Broadcast on Kidney Stories 2 with is Charles  “Chuck” Pecoraro.  He is a 63 year old man from Florida who is seeking a Kidney. Chuck’s Background He was born into a military family,  but became a business manager from the age of 19 in 1979 until June of 2019 when he became ill. He is married and has 2 children. He has also been an independent transportation driver in Myrtle Beach SC, where he created his own company, “Cabbz Here Taxi” that  became a company with 40+ vehicles and drivers. Cancer Diagnosis In June of 2019,

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Ben and Jasper’s Great Kidney Transplant Story

I recently did a Streamyard Broadcast with Ben Street, a living kidney donor from London and Jasper Sharp,  his grateful kidney recipient from Vienna. Ben is an art historian and writer. He has worked as an art history lecturer and educator at a wide variety of institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, and Tate and The National Gallery, London. He is author of a number of books on art, for both children and adult audiences. His most recent book is “How To Enjoy Art: A Guide for Everyone.” Jasper is a

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Dr. Sejal Patel, Physician, Researcher and Kidney Transplant Patient

By Jim Myers – On Friday, January 14th,  2022, I did a remarkable broadcast with Sejal Patel,  M.D., CCRP.  Dr. Patel is a Certified Clinical Research Coordinator,  Kidney Researcher,  Pre-Emptive Kidney/Pancreas Transplant Patient and a remarkably generous medical professional. Our original conversation was scheduled to take place on November 5th, 2021, but on November 4th,  2021, Sajel had her second kidney transplant. We rescheduled our talk. She is a graduate of the Medical University of Silesia in Poland,  she is Board Certified through the ECFMG, (Educational Comission for Foreign Medical Graduates) and the Accreditation Counsel for Graduate Medical Education. Sejal is

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Why We Love the MOMster

I recently did a live interview with Shannon Mulroy. Every once in a while, you run across a great kidney transplant story that is so good, you just have to share it. But the Kidney Story you’re about to read about involves not one, not two, not three but at least four kidney transplants with the possibility of more! Shannon Mulroy has a young daughter, Julia who, at the age of 15, was living an idyllic life in suburban New York, going to high school, playing soccer and lacrosse and hanging out with friends. Suddenly, her eyes and legs began

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Austin Lee, An Extraordinary Advocate

On Friday, November 26th, I did an interview with Austin Lee on the Urban Health Outreach Media. This was a terrific, far-ranging interview with one of the more interesting kidney advocates from the DC, Maryland and Virginia (DMV) areas. Austin Lee is a two-time kidney transplant recipient, who was born with a rare kidney disease, posterior urethral valve (PUV) and become one of the most active and influential kidney advocates in America. He received his first kidney transplant at the age of 4 from a live donation made by his Mom in July of 1993, that lasted 14 years until

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Our Story – Paired Kidney Exchange

My wife Wendy was struggling with CKD through 2018. It became time to decide if she should consider dialysis or pursue a living donor. After researching the dialysis options, we decided to pursue a living donor. Our friends were willing to get tested to determine if they were a match for Wendy. We greatly appreciated the outpouring of compassion for us. My son Justin and I agreed we should be first to undergo testing for a match. Our testing began in Feb of 2019. During that time, Wendy’s kidney function was at 9%. Her Nephrologist told us as a precaution

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