Eleven years after a successful kidney transplant, Jim Wallace still appreciates his kidneys. So much so, in fact, that he and his wife have thrown a Kidney Party in celebration of his fabulous filtering organ every year since. They make kidney pie and serve kidney bean salad in honor of the organ. Very cute! {via Los Angeles Times. Thanks, Mom!}
Posts Tagged ‘dialysis’
Kidney Parties!
Posted: Thursday, December 10th, 2009Renal Love Story
Posted: Wednesday, October 14th, 2009In the past, some of you have written in to ask if our plush organs can be machine washed. Well, we now have the answer to that question, as well as the answer to the lesser-asked question: can kidneys be microwaved? Check out Kidney’s Valentine’s Day by pterion on YouTube, starring our very own I Heart Guts kidney and set to an inspirational Journey soundtrack.
A Renal Winner
Posted: Thursday, September 24th, 2009
While dialysis has always been more of a necessity than a source of enjoyment, it no longer has to take up your whole day sitting in a clinic or at home. The Wearable Artificial Kidney (WAK) is a complete dialysis system attached to a belt. While style is not a key feature here, mobility definitely is. The WAK allows patients with severe renal failure to enjoy the everyday pleasures of life while receiving dialysis 24/7. The belt weighs in at a mere 10 pounds including its power source of two 9-volt batteries and claims to be light enough to use while running, walking, or even riding a bike! You can read more about the benefits of the WAK at Gizmag.
Ya Gotta Be Kidney
Posted: Monday, July 27th, 2009
Though the unwitting organ donor left in a bathtub full of ice story is little more than a tall tale, the need for donated kidneys is very real. These popular organs are indeed in short supply, so much so that 44 people were arrested for brokering the sale of kidneys to a few of the approximately 80,000 Americans waiting for a donor organ. An opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal remarks that it’s not so shocking for someone to try and profit from the buying and selling of kidneys, since there’s so much money involved and lives are quite literally at stake. Some medical ethicists argue that people should be allowed to sell their own kidneys because the worldwide kidney shortage is so bad. Others say paying people for their kidneys would exploit the poor, especially in countries like India. Anyway, what do you think? [photo by Getty Images via Time]
