KidneyTalk - An Online Radio Show By Renal Support Network

Ardis Bazyn is a motivational speaker, business coach and author. She lost her sight in a car accident at a young age. In this motivating interview, Ardis shares with Lori how she has overcome obstacles and has used technology, travel and coping strategies to fulfill her goals in life and live the life she wants to live. Make the impossible possible is her motto.

Good nutrition coupled with good dental hygiene is key to good health. Cher Thomas explains why this is so important for people with chronic kidney disease, how problems can arise if you are not chewing your food properly or making enough saliva, and the risks factors for gum disease and cavities. Cher has been a transplant patient for more than 16 years and is passionate about educating her peers to improve their oral, and overall, health.

Judy Weintraub has a store of knowledge, gained from experience, she would like to share with the renal community. On dialysis for more than 40 years, Judy shares with Lori her wisdom, her philosophy of life and most importantly how she has come to accept her health and cherish every moment. She is currently working on a documentary titled "Life on the Bridge," to share her story and to inspire those who may think they are in limbo to live the fullest life possible. "It's all about what you love and who you love," says Judy.

Have you ever been confused as to why your blood pressure goes up or down? Are you frustrated because you don't have the faintest idea why? Sandy explains to Lori how the vascular system works, how different types of blood pressure medication work, and what you can do to help keep your BP in the normal range. The information in this interview could help you make a life-saving decision at a critical time, so you may want to take notes.

John Brockington was one of many men who ignored the warning signs of health issues until he ended up in Emergency. John played football at Ohio State and for the Green Bay Packers and was in top shape. He didn't think his body could fail him. Diane Brockington stepped forward and was a match. Listen to their remarkable story, and how their journey led them to help others through the John Brockington Foundation.

Jared Heyman knew there had to be a better way when his little sister suffered for three years with a medical condition that could not be diagnosed. After many doctor visits and thousands of dollars in medical bills, she was finally diagnosed and given proper treatment. This was Jared's motivation for CrowdMed. Medical Detectives from around the world help people with mysterious medical problems figure out a diagnosis. Listen and learn about a new way of helping to diagnose medical problems.

Josh Morrison thought for many years about the possibility of donating one of his kidneys to help someone in need. Hear the remarkable story of how Josh came to donate a kidney to a stranger, and the insight he discovered along the way. Josh founded WaitListZero, an organization that increases living donations by addressing the educational and financial barriers faced by living donors.

A patient and family centered care environment encourages participation and engagement, and these lead to better clinical outcomes. Celeste Castillo-Lee, Program Manager at the University of Michigan, has been on dialysis for many years. In this talk with Lori, Celeste discusses moving from a system-centered model of care to a patient and family centered model, allowing the patient to take control, and improving quality of life and longevity.

Daniel Vandenbark-Woodward was healthy and never had any signs of being sick until one day he ended up in the Emergency Room with acute kidney failure (AKI) and needed dialysis immediately. AKI is different from chronic kidney failure. You can hear Daniel tell Lori his story and learn if his kidneys recovered.

Choosing a dialysis treatment option can be difficult and many people do not know there are seven types of options available. Dori Schatell, the Executive Director of Medical Education Institute, has developed a website called Mydialysischoice.org and shares with Lori how this site will be helpful to people who need dialysis. Learn about the pros and cons of each treatment modality and pick the one that suits your lifestyle.

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) require every dialysis facility to measure quality of care and the results are located at DialysisFacilityCompare.com. This site helps people make informed choices about their own treatment and care they receive. CMS is adding a new feature to this website that will use a five-star rating system which will rate facilities based on a bell-curve. Glenda Payne, RN and Lori discuss how this new system works so you can be up-to-date.

People often keep chronic illness a secret because of how it can affect their personal or professional lives. Alan Mendelson, of the Emmy award-winning Alan's Best Buys, hid the fact that he was living with diabetes and relying on insulin. He eventually needed a kidney and pancreas transplant, and received the needed organs. These tremendous gifts of life made him want to share his journey with others. Listen to this interview about what he learned.

Comic relief came in the form of a kidney from this comedian. When Alonzo Bodden learned his brother was in need of a kidney transplant, he didn't think twice about donating one of his. He was a comedian donating a kidney; on the other side of the deal, he could tell you that several well-known comedians have received life-saving kidney transplants! It's a good thing he didn't give his brother the funny kidney, because Alonzo's stand-up act is a must see. Listen to this great interview about his experience.

Cuts, scrapes and bruises may seem harmless, but when you are immune-compromised, the risks are higher for infections. Bob Klein talks to Lori about everything he learned after he had to care for a wound. What kind of doctor should you see? Is there a right way to "ice" a wound? How long should you wait to seek medical help? The information in this interview can save your life!

If you are waiting for a kidney transplant from a deceased donor, you probably already know that waiting times vary throughout the Country and over 100,000 people are waiting for a kidney transplant. The system used to determine who receives a deceased donor kidney is coordinated by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). At the end of 2014, the criteria used for kidney allocation is changing. Lori talks to Dr. Richard Formica, who chairs the OPTN/UNOS Kidney Transplantation Committee to help shed light on the new system, why it was changed and how it will impact people waiting.

We spend large amounts of time on the road, some of it just sitting in traffic. If you're stuck in a bumper-to-bumper traffic jam, you can't help but stare at the bumper - and license! - of the car in front of you. Yes, here is your chance to make a difference with personalized license plates. You give others in a traffic jam or a parking lot something to look at and something to think about. At the same time, you spread awareness about the important message of organ donation registration. Charlene Zettel, CEO of Donate Life California, explains how easy it is to drive and support organ donation at the same time. You can visit donatelifeplate.org and order special plates with the message of Donate Life.

If you have trouble sitting still during prolonged periods of time, like dialysis, for example, because your legs get numb and tingly, these may be signs of a serious medical condition. Susie Gonzalez talks to Lori about the initial symptoms that turned out to be a deterioration of nerves otherwise known as Neuropathy. Listen to the interview and learn more about the signs Susie felt and what you can do to seek help if you may be experiencing it.

What is a home health worker? It can be your friend, neighbor, relative or a professional that you have hired. There are many things to consider when choosing a home health worker, from the type of help you need (is it chores, wound care, physical therapy) to how you are going to pay for it. Lesley Holden, RN can help shed some light on what to keep in mind to help make the right choice for you or a loved one.

"Let's take this picture and make it go viral," said Brandy to her friend Kristi. Little did they know just how successful that campaign would be. Kristi Callaway told her long-time friend Brandy Angel that her husband was in need of a kidney and they came up with a plan to start looking beyond their immediate group of friends and family. Raleigh Callaway, the police officer who had kept quiet about his failing kidneys, suddenly found himself in the middle of a social media whirlwind. Listen to how these friends teamed up to make it happen and how they plan to help others through what they've learned. Learn more about their work at www.callawaysangels.com

Dating and learning how to deal with body image issues, rejection and acceptance, and intimacy is all part of growing up. But if you have medical issues that are visible, you may have more reservations and be less likely to give yourself a chance. Joanna Galeas chats with Lori about her decision making process when it came to choosing a dialysis method and when and how to tell someone she is dating. Listen to this honest and open conversation about accepting yourself. Warning: moderate sexual content.