Kent's Kidney Stories

In this heartwarming episode, Kent Bresler sits down with Jennifer Cramer-Miller, author of "Incurable Optimist: Living with Illness and Chronic Hope." Jennifer shares her profound journey as a fellow FSGS patient who has navigated the tumultuous waters of dialysis, multiple transplants, and the relentless pursuit of hope and joy amidst chronic illness. Their conversation explores the emotional la...

Kent Bresler is joined by Amy Makovic, a poet and professor whose life-altering journey through a triple organ transplant during the pandemic is nothing short of miraculous. Her candid conversation delves into the emotional rollercoaster of an 18-hour surgery, an 11-month hospital recovery, and the mental health challenges that followed. Amy's resilience shines through as she discusses her return...

In this deeply personal episode of 'Kent's Kidney Story,' Kent Bresler invites listeners to explore the intersection of kidney health and the aging process. From his own experiences with a transplant that has lasted over three decades to the nuances of managing life post-transplant, Kent offers a transparent look at the highs and lows. Discover the role of community support, the impact of lifestyl...

Kent talks to Jaime Imhof, a dual donor double transplant recipient. In June 2022 she was rushed to the hospital raging with multiple infections and organ failure. and was given a 10% chance of survival. Jamie needed a liver transplant first to survive, breaking the six-month sobriety rule in a groundbreaking program led by Johns Hopkins Hospital. After that, she also required a kidney transplant...

Kent talks to Lauren Drew, who gave her kidney to a stranger and became a kidney advocate. Lauren works at the National Kidney Foundation and helps shape policies for kidney patients and donors. Listen to this episode to hear Lauren's inspiring story and learn how to support the kidney community. If you have questions regarding items discussed during this episode or would like more information abo...

Lots of laughter and joy as Ryan shares his kidney journey story with Kent. Ryan is a local radio station celebrity in Kerrville, Texas at 103.7 MIKE FM. His story is beyond the routine as he had lost one kidney and then had cancer in his remaining kidney and lost it too. He shares about his experiences with cancer and the joys and tribulations. He also has an interesting tale to tell about his fa...

Kent talks with Rachel A. Davis, MD associate professor of psychiatry and neurosurgery at the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine. Rachel is a non-directed liver donor, donating the right lobe of her liver in January of 2022.  This experience fueled a desire to increase awareness and advocacy about living liver and kidney donation. She has written a research paper titled "Lithium an...

Kent and his good friend Erin Kahle talk about the American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP). A group focused on the welfare of all patients with Kidney Disease. He calls her exceptional and humble. Enjoy her love for kidney patients. Click here to visit the official website for AAKP . If you have questions regarding items discussed during this episode or would like more information about Kid...

Kent speaks with Ali Dawson. Ali is from the UK and chose to give one of his kidneys to one of his colleagues, Sonia. His story is unique in that he now has become a huge advocate and plans to altruistically donate a part of his liver in the coming years! The whole experience has been life-enriching beyond anything he could ever describe. Ali shared with Kent, "Of all the things I've ever done in...

Hannah Graves is a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Attending school in the community, Hannah found her calling in psychology and pursued the direction of a well-placed guidance counselor to pursue social work. After graduating in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Hannah decided to attend Graduate School for Social Work at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee at the Helen Bader School of...

Kent  talks  with  Marc  Coronel, another  patient  with Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis ( FSGS). Mark  offers  his  unique  insight  into  the  importance  of  being  focused  on  taking  care  of  yourself.  He  talks  of  his  life  on  dialysis  and  then  Transplant  and  living  with  FSGS. If you have questions regarding items discussed during this episode or would like more information...

After having a semi-normal childhood throughout the 80's and early 90's, Kimberly Jacques underwent a risky, rarely performed heart-double lung transplant at the age of 16. More than a quarter of a century later, Kimberly talks about her triumphs and tribulations, the differences between transplantation then and now, and what motivates her to keep on going all these years later. If you have questi...

Kent  talks  with  Emmitt  Henderson  III  the  CEO  of  Male  Lupus  Warriors.  He  talks  of  the  difficulties  dealing  with  Lupus  and  its  multiple  medical  issues  that  occur.  Originally  transplanted  only  to  lose  the  kidney  to  complications.  He  talks  about  his corporation " Male  Lupus  Warriors"  developed  to  spread  Lupus  and  Mental  Health  awareness  to  all  who  w...

Kent speaks with Kidney Warrior and Published Fictor Author Weston L. Collins. He shares his story of being diagnosed with Kidney disease, dialysis, fighting a snowstorm to receive his kidney transplant, and takes us into his thoughts on writing and more! Weston L. Collins has been a published fiction author for over 10 years. In his time, he has written over 13 books and has been published four t...

Kent speaks with Lindsey Disla-Laurinat and her need for a kidney. Please consider helping give Lindsey a second chance at living the life God put her on this earth to do. A kidney transplant would give her a chance to enjoy her family and friends. She would be eternally grateful. Are YOU the One? If you would like to learn more about becoming a donor for Lndsey, please contact Kidney Solutions at...

Michael Williams. is a husband and father to two teenage boys and is in need of a Kidney Donor.  Are YOU the One? He works part-time as a CAD drafting analyst and is active in his church, serving in several positions. He also enjoys drawing, the ocean, and playing the guitar. He is looking forward to receiving a kidney so he is able to continue serving and maybe doing more things with his sons and...

Dr.  Allen  Davidoff  is  the  founder  and  CEO  of  XORTX  Therapeutics,  exploring  new  therapies  to  treat  progressive  kidney  disease.   Educated  at  The  University  of  Calgary,  Allen  has  15  years  of  drug  development  experience  with  a  focus  on  clinical  and  regulatory  developmental  affairs  in  the  US,  Canada,  Germany,  Denmark,  and  India.   Allen  has  a  broad  r...

Kent talks with David Perchinsky and his need for a living kidney donor. Having to be on dialysis is not a burden but he desperately wants to be transplanted to get his life back. David wants to return to teaching and coaching. Listen as he explains his feeling about the difficult life of someone with kidney disease.  Are YOU the One? If you would like to learn more about becoming a donor for Ryan...

Ryan Bowman talks to Kent about his difficulties in navigating the search for a living donor. At 49 years old he is on in-center dialysis. In addition, he is an only child and the primary caregiver for his legally blind mother who is 70 years old. Dialysis leaves him exhausted and struggling to give his mother the attention and assistance she deserves. He is in hopes of returning to full-time work...

Greg Matthews is a husband, father of two daughters, and grandfather. His lung transplant medication has brought him to the place where he is badly in need of a kidney. With over 97,000 individuals on the kidney transplant list, fewer than 25,000 will receive a transplant. We could use your help in locating donors. Kidney donation is actually a very simple procedure. Your thoughts are appreciated....

Kent speaks with Dr. Lincy  Jojan, a Lead  Nurse  practitioner  in  the  Department  of  Medicine  at  Northwell  Health  Hospital  in  New  York.  Kidney  Solutions  patients  were  a  great  part  of  her  doctoral  thesis,  and  she  talks  about  her  Doctoral  Study  on  Shared  Decision  Making  in  those  with  CKD.  Her  passion  for  working  within  the  Kidney  world  is  extraordinary....

Armand Halter underwent a deceased donor kidney transplant 27 years ago. His kidney journey became a little rocky when he began experiencing signs of kidney rejection with a rise in creatine in May of 2022. He talks about the use of a test for rejection called Prospera a product of a company called Natera. Listen to how Armand talks about his experience. If you have questions regarding items discu...

Kent speaks with Lindsay Ducharme, a registered dietitian, board-certified renal nutrition specialist, and Vital Kidney Nutrition's owner.  Vital Kidney Nutrition provides nutrition counseling to those with stage 1-5 kidney disease. She has been a dietitian since 2009 and has worked exclusively with those with kidney disease since 2014. She started her own private practice in 2021 after realizing...

Kent speaks with Michael Curtis, Ph. D., President & CEO of eGenesis . Dr. Curtis has more than 30 years of experience in scientific research and leadership in biopharmaceutical drug development across multiple therapeutic areas. Before joining eGenesis he served as Chief Executive Officer, President and Head of R&D at Cadent Therapeutics. Moreover, Dr. Curtis  was an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at...

Kent speaks with Rachelle McCray about her journey with Alport Syndrome and her experience with Renasight, a Natera product that determines if there is a genetic cause for an individual's kidney disease or if there is an increased hereditary risk due to family history. Rachelle McCray —Rachelle is a television host, entrepreneur, and patient advocate for chronic kidney disease. Rachelle is the fou...