Kent's Kidney Stories

After a 31-year career in banking, a diagnosis of chronic kidney disease in 2013 changed the course of Jean Sime's life. She began in-center hemodialysis in 2015 and, in 2019, received a life-saving kidney transplant from a living donor who was once a stranger.  Following a career transition in 2022, She entered the publishing industry and has since become a passionate advocate for organ donation...

Kent Bressler welcomes Matt Cavanaugh, a West Point graduate and retired Army officer, who shares his inspiring journey of kidney donation. While serving on active duty, Matt donated a kidney at Walter Reed, igniting a chain of donations that ultimately saved seven lives. He reflects on how his experiences in Iraq and the lessons of service and sacrifice influenced his decision to donate, emphasiz...

Kent Bressler speaks with Donald Griswold, is a filmmaker and director of the documentary feature film, "Abundant."  This documentary explores the incredible journeys of non-directed kidney donors, diving into themes of giving, scarcity, and abundance. He believe this film aligns perfectly, "Abundant" has been rated 4.8/5 by hundreds of viewers—he is ready to share this journey with you today. To...

Kent Bressler sits down with Danny English, an accomplished pianist and music producer. He's looking for a living kidney donor so he can get on with his life and get off dialysis and return to living. He talks about how dialysis gets in the way and cloud his future. We ask you to take a listen, pray and see if you might not be the one to donate to Danny. Kent and Danny discuss the importance of aw...

Kent Bressler welcomes Karthik Shivaprasad, discusses artificial intelligence and kidney health. Karthik shares his personal connection to kidney disease, as both of his parents are affected, which has fueled his passion for raising awareness through his nonprofit, Renal Reach. Kent and Karthik delve into how AI can be leveraged to identify patterns and enhance education about chronic kidney disea...

Kent reconnects with Charles Cranford, who is seeking a living kidney donor after his kidney function began to fail. Charles shares his journey, including his past transplant experience with his wife, Amy, and the challenges he faces as he navigates the need for another transplant. Together, they emphasize the importance of community support, faith, and the proactive steps Charles is taking to spr...

Kent Bressler talks with Finn Israel, a young man living with Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome. Finn shares how a surprising diagnosis led to kidney failure and the urgent need for a transplant. Through it all, Finn highlights the strength he finds in family, friends, and community support. He and Kent also talk about the challenges of kidney disease, the strict process for finding donors, and t...

Kent Bressler talks with Josie Maier, co-director of Project Donor—a nonprofit offering free support to living organ donor candidates. Kent reflects on his journey as a living donor kidney transplant recipient and his recent triumph over cancer. Josie sheds light on key challenges in organ donation, especially how BMI restrictions can prevent otherwise willing individuals from donating. Project Do...

Kent Bressler welcomes Glenna Frey, MSN, APRN-CNS. She has dedicated over 40 years to nephrology nursing, specializing in hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and kidney transplantation. In 2017, she donated a kidney to a stranger at the Cleveland Clinic. The following year, she co-founded Kidney Donor Conversations (KDC), a nonprofit providing education and support for living kidney donation with h...

Kent Bressler speaks with Rachel Claudine and Dr. Sandy Gilbert from the National Kidney Foundation . They explore the groundbreaking KidneyCARE Study, a pioneering patient-centered research initiative designed to gather vital data directly from individuals living with various stages of kidney disease. Rachel shares her personal journey with Lupus Nephritis, emphasizing the significance of patient...

Cody Kubiak's story is one of extraordinary resilience, faith, and hope. In this episode, we dive into his powerful journey—from childhood surgeries to receiving a kidney transplant and battling cancer. Through every trial, Cody has shown what it means to persevere and live with purpose. Hear firsthand how he turned hardship into hope, and discover why raising awareness for kidney donation is more...

Kent Bresler shares his personal journey through kidney disease, including his experiences with a kidney transplant, dialysis, and the challenges he faced with a recent health scare. With a focus on resilience and the importance of regular medical check-ups, Kent offers insights into navigating life after a transplant and the significance of community support. Join us for an inspiring discussion t...

Join Kent Bressler in this deeply insightful episode of Kent's Kidney Stories as he welcomes Dan Holmes, a former U.S. Navy combat search and rescue operator, to discuss his remarkable journey through kidney disease. Listen in as Dan shares his experiences from the harrowing shipboard fire that led to his PTSD and subsequent diagnosis with membranous nephropathy, a rare and incurable kidney diseas...

In this episode, Kent Bresler sits down with LJ Dong, a remarkable individual who shares her unique journey of overcoming Nutcracker Syndrome and becoming a kidney donor. LJ talks about surviving multiple surgeries on her spine and abdomen and how a diagnosis of  Nutcracker Syndrome has changed her life. Nutcracker Syndrome is a compression of the renal vein causing, pain and potential damage to t...

In this heartfelt episode, Kent Bresler sits down with Jamie Stroup, a remarkable woman who has undergone not one, but two heart transplants, and a double lung transplant. Jamie shares her incredible journey from her first transplant at the age of 16 to her recent second heart transplant in October 2023. They discuss the emotional and physical challenges she faced, the support from her family and...

Join Kent Bressler as he delves into the New Era Act, a groundbreaking Bill aimed at improving the lives of those with rare kidney diseases. Learn about Kent's advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill, the importance of early intervention, and how you can contribute to this vital cause. Don't miss this informative and inspiring episode! For more information on Kidney Solutions and to join their supportive...

In this heartfelt episode of Kent's Kidney Stories, host Kent Bresler reconnects with Ali Dawson and Sonia, two inspiring individuals from London. Their story is a testament to the power of friendship, kindness, and the life-changing impact of kidney donation. We hear about the incredible journey of Sonia, who suffers from polycystic kidney disease, and her miraculous connection with Ali, a former...

In our latest episode of Kent's Kidney Stories, we bring you the incredible journey of Julie Lynn Nast. From her early struggles with kidney disease and a challenging pregnancy on dialysis to her transplant experience and ongoing advocacy work, Julie's story is one of resilience and hope. Julie shares her battles with peripheral artery disease, the complications she faced post-transplant, and her...

  In this special episode of Kent's Kidney Stories, host Kent Bresler steps outside the usual realm of kidney disease to bring you an inspiring conversation with Steven Gambrel, a heart and double lung transplant recipient. Steven shares his remarkable journey, starting from his congenital heart defect diagnosed at birth, through the trials of atrial fibrillation in his teenage years, to the life-...

In this compelling episode of Kent's Kidney Stories, host Kent Bresler welcomes Elaine Perlman, Executive Director of Waitlist Zero and mentor for the National Kidney Donation Organization. Elaine shares her remarkable journey from educator to kidney donation advocate, spurred by her and her son's altruistic kidney donations. Together, they delve into the urgent need for the End Kidney Deaths Act,...

Kent's Kidney Stories presents a powerful episode featuring Dr. Matthew Cooper, who sheds light on the latest advancements in kidney transplant monitoring. Discover the remarkable potential of cell-free DNA testing to predict and prevent organ rejection, reducing the need for biopsies and enhancing the longevity of transplanted kidneys. Kent's personal insights and Dr. Cooper's expertise combine t...

In this heartfelt and deeply personal episode of Kent's Kidney Stories, host Kent Bressler is joined by Zachary Sutton, a man of profound impact in the kidney community. With his doctorate in Health Administration and experience as a Physician's Assistant, Zachary's journey is one of both professional insight and personal sacrifice, having been an altruistic kidney donor himself. Kent and Zachary...

In this inspiring episode of Kent's Kidney Stories, host Kent Bresler invites Jonathan Traylor from Kerrville, Texas, to discuss the upcoming fun walk in April and the remarkable work being done at Kidney Solutions. Jonathan, the organization's social media director, shares how his personal journey with kidney disease led him to give back to the community that supported him through his own health...

Kent delves into the vital world of kidney health advocacy with special guest Diana Clynes, the dedicated Executive Director of the American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP). With nearly two decades at AAKP, Diana brings a wealth of experience and a heartfelt commitment to improving the lives of those affected by kidney disease. Kent and Diana explore the pressing issues facing the kidney com...

Josh Tarnoff joined NephCure as CEO in early 2018, fulfilling a long-held desire to serve the rare disease patient community more closely. He spent more than 30 years working in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology community, moving new therapies closer to reality. Personal connections with NephCure families fuel his passion to achieve NephCure's mission-driven goals, and he always appreciates dir...