March 10, 2011 - World Kidney Day!

World Kidney Day!  Who knew there was such a thing?  Well there is, and it is a great thing at that.

Had I not had kidney disease and in need of a transplant, like most people today, I may have not taken much notice of today’s “holiday”.  In fact, like most people, I may not have even known that there was such a thing as World Kidney Day.  After all, it does not get that much play on the news or in the newspapers.  If it were not for a few different websites that I visit, I may have never known that there was such a thing as World Kidney Day.

But there is such a thing as World Kidney Day, and as I said before, it is a really good thing.  The reason why we have days, or in some instances, weeks, set aside for honoring causes or diseases, is mainly to bring awareness to those causes or diseases. 

There is even a website devoted to World Kidney Day… http://www.worldkidneyday.org/ .    World Kidney Day was started as a joint initiative of the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations (IFKF).  And the mission of World Kidney Day is to raise awareness of the importance of our kidneys to our overall health and to reduce the frequency and impact of kidney disease and its associated health problems worldwide.

So, what can you do to celebrate World Kidney Day?  I’m not sure you are going to see a car dealership honor the day as they do with every other holiday.  But wouldn’t it be cool if some savvy car dealership picked up on the concept…I can see the advertisement now:

            Come on down to Any Town Chevrolet and help us celebrate World Kidney Day…Bring proof that you have kidney disease and receive 10% off a brand new Chevy Equinox or Cruze.  Bring proof that you have received a kidney transplant and get 20% off a brand new Chevy and if you have donated a kidney, then you are entitled to 30% off a brand new Chevrolet!  (For transplant recipients and donors, proof can be in the form of a scar – just show us your scar and you get the deal!)…Come on down, today only!

That would be certainly something to see.  For me, however, if anyone were to ask me that question today, I would say make an appointment with your doctor and get a check up, particularly if you have a family history of high blood pressure, Diabetes or kidney disease.  I know we are all busy, and it is annoying to have to take time out of our hectic lives to go to the doctor when we don’t feel like anything is wrong.  Trust when I say that if you can walk out of the doctor’s office and he or she says “You look great, see me in a year.”, that is well worth our impatience of sitting in the waiting room an extra 20 minutes.  Or suppose, the doctor says that they detect your blood pressure is elevated, they could start you on a medication to help you bring it under control – well worth the time to visit the doctor.

Another way you can celebrate World Kidney Day…a simple act of kindness – sign up to be an organ donor, you could save someone’s life!  Visit www.organdonor.gov

To all of the kidney patients out there…Happy World Kidney Day!  And if you know of someone with kidney disease, wish them well today and wish them a Happy World Kidney Day! (Chevy not included, unfortunately).