A Bryson in China

Time to Fix the Heart

Labels: Hospital, Kidney Disease, kidney transplant, PKD

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 9:23 AM Comments: 2

It's National Kidney Month

Labels: Kidney Disease, PKD

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 10:24 PM Comments: 0

Cojo's PKD Story

Living in China, far away from Hollywood, I don’t know much about Steven Cojocaru, or “Cojo.” But I do know we suffer the same kidney disease, PKD. He is currently making the rounds on talk shows in publicizing his new book about his experiences that include two transplants: "Glamour, Interrupted: How I Became the Best-Dressed Patient in Hollywood."

It’s good to see more attention to this disease that affects myself and 12.5 million adults and children around the world.

Read more about Cojo’s story through the PKD Foundation website, or by clicking here.

Labels: Cojo, Kidney Disease, kidney transplant, PKD, Steven Cojocaru

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 5:49 PM Comments: 0

New Medicare Proposal

On another health related issue………….. I urge my American friends to please give your support for recently introduced legislation regarding the time limit for Medicare support. Currently there is a 36 month time limit for anti-rejection medicines used after transplant surgery. The financial burden on Americans that must have surgery for a transplant is enough to endure. The added impact of loosing coverage for medicines after 36 months is too great.

Anti-rejection medicine is required to assist the body in the differences with new organs. The medicines are very expensive, and can have other undesirable effects, but when it sustains life it can be very important. Many patients cannot bear the financial burden without Medicare support. The 36 month time limit is just too stringent. The costs of transplant surgery alone is enough.

Please write your congressman in support of the Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Transplant Patients Act of 2007 (H.R. 3282) today. See related links.

Thanks. From someone that will need this coverage in the near future.

Labels: Congress, Medicare, PKD

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 10:11 AM Comments: 0

Walk for PKD................. Please

Walk for PKD. You may have heard advertisements for a walk near you. The third weekend in September is National PKD Awareness Week, and the walks coincide to promote and bring more aid to fighting Polycystic Kidney Disease.

PKD is the disease affecting my health. It is breaking down my kidneys slowly. I’m doing okay for now, but I would be much better off if I could get a kidney transplant. And there are about 70,000 other Americans in need of a kidney transplant like me. Tackling this debilitating disease with new research and medical advances is important for me personally, but is important to all Americans and people of all nations.

If you have the opportunity to support a Walk for PKD near your home, please do so. Even get out and walk if possible. More information is available at the pkdcure.org site or clicking here.

Labels: Kidney Disease, kidney donation, PKD

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 12:28 PM Comments: 0

Delaware Senator with PKD Needs Kidney Transplant Too

I receive several alerts for news situations to help keep me informed about current events in this faraway land. As I’ve often stated it can be difficult to get the news here. Again today, (for example) I got to watch Samantha Brown climb to the top of the Cathedral of Seville, instead of the ABC Evening News,………. for probably the 200^th time!!! [See previous posting.]

Anyway, a recent headline in one of my alerts really caught my attention: Senator Bunting Needs Kidney Transplant. As I read on, I found out that this was George Bunting Jr., a State Senator of Delaware. Of course, I had never heard of this state senator from Delaware, but the news of his situation is all too familiar. He too suffers from polycystic kidney disease and rapid deterioration has led to the urgent need for a transplant or at least dialysis.

I’m only a few years younger than the Delaware State Senator. I have not reached an urgent need for dialysis or transplant. However, I’m getting closer by the day. The news states the senator may have family members eligible to donate. So far no one has worked out for me. In his urgent need, I hope someone matches soon for him. I still need someone.

I also hope Senator Bunting will use his position to bring some more information to the public to understand the great need for transplant donors, and the need for more people to at least sign up as a donor. Please give it thought and read the informative websites in the right column on what and how to be sure you are a donor. Help Save A Life!

And Good Luck Senator Bunting.

Labels: kidney donation, kidney transplant, PKD

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 4:26 PM Comments: 0