I wanted to use this week’s blog entry to talk about some of the different ways I have used to get through a dialysis visit, as well as different struggles we face. As you go into week 3 there are a few things that you will notice have changed. READ MORE >>

As a transplant surgeon and director of the George Washington University Transplant Institute, I have a special interest is in trying to get as many patients as possible kidney transplants. Patients who receive kidney transplants live a much longer life and are generally much happier than patients who remain on dialysis. READ MORE >>

"Wow" is just about the only word I can use to describe my second week of dialysis. The second week was one that was both smooth and painfully gut-wrenching all the same. READ MORE >>

Today was my first day of dialysis at the local dialysis clinic. I have been waiting on this day for a long time and I realized once I got here that you can never truly prepare yourself for what you are about to experience. READ MORE >>

Diabetes is a disease that causes your body to have trouble making or using insulin, a hormone that helps your body turn sugar from the foods you eat into energy. When your body doesn't use insulin the way it should, too much sugar stays in your blood. READ MORE >>

If you are a transplant patient, the federal government wants to hear from you. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the government agency that regulates the production of all medications in the United States. To determine whether a drug is placed on the market, the FDA measures whether the benefits of a drug outweigh the risks. READ MORE >>

A diagnosis of kidney failure is life-changing. Because kidney failure has no cure, patients need dialysis or a transplant to live, and the vast majority of patients will be on dialysis. READ MORE >>

Five years ago I learned that my kidneys had failed and I would need to start dialysis to survive. Soon after, I found myself dealing with the sudden death of my mother. Dealing with these two sudden, devastating events at the same time was very challenging and I wasn’t sure how to make things work. READ MORE >>

I’ve had kidney disease for half my life, and I have worked hard to do what I needed to in spite of it—graduating high school, college and graduate school, and pursuing my career in education. READ MORE >>

Kaiser Health News recently reported on new research that provides a fresh perspective on the importance of preventive care, early detection and access to nephrologists in improving outcomes for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). READ MORE >>

Recently the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced it will investigate possible inappropriate efforts by providers of dialysis services to steer patients eligible for Medicare and Medicaid into insurance plans paid for by third parties. We think this is an important issue and we fully support the effort to make sure that there is no room for undue influence over patients in choosing their insurance. READ MORE >>

Ever since I was four years old, I have been living with kidney failure. My experiences led me to pursue a master’s degree and become a Child Life Specialist—someone who normalizes the hospital environment for children and their families. READ MORE >>