Kidney To Share

In Kidney to Share, Martha Gershun tells the story of her decision to donate a kidney to a stranger. She takes readers through the complex process by which such donors are vetted to ensure that they are physically and psychologically fit to take the risk of a major operation. John D. Lantos, a physician and bioethicist, places Gershun's story in the larger context of the history of kidney transplantation and the ethical controversies that surround living donors. Together, they help readers understand the discoveries that made transplantation relatively safe and effective as well as the legal, ethical, and economic policies that make it feasible. Gershun and Lantos explore the steps involved in recovering and allocating organs. They analyze the differences that arise depending on whether the organ comes from a living donor or one who has died. They observe the expertise—and the shortcomings—of doctors, nurses, and other professionals and describe the burdens that we place on people who are willing to donate. In this raw and vivid book, Gershun and Lantos ask us to consider just how far society should go in using one person's healthy body parts in order to save another person. Kidney to Share provides an account of organ donation that is both personal and analytical. The combination of perspectives leads to a profound and compelling exploration of a largely opaque practice. Gershun and Lantos pull back the curtain to offer readers a more transparent view of the fascinating world of organ donation.

"A woman who decides to donate a kidney to a stranger tells her story, and a bioethicist reviews the history of ethical controversies surrounding organ donation. These different perspectives on kidney donation give the reader a sense of how this medical technology has evolved and how ethics and the law have changed to make organ donation possible"--

If most Americans accept the notion that the market is the most efficient means to distribute resources, why should body parts be excluded? Each year thousands of people die waiting for organ transplants. Many of these deaths could have been prevented were it not for the almost universal moral hand-wringing over the concept of selling human organs. Kidney for Sale by Owner, now with a new preface, boldly deconstructs the roadblocks that are standing in the way of restoring health to thousands of people. Author and bioethicist Mark Cherry reasserts the case that health care could be improved and lives saved by introducing a regulated transplant organs market rather than by well-meant, but misguided, prohibitions.

How Billy (the Kidney) Earned His Name is a story intended for elementary school age children and older who are experiencing kidney failure. This story aims to introduce the experience of kidney transplant to children-who better to explain transplant than a kidney with a sense of humor? The authors hope that this book makes medical procedures easier for children who are coping with the challenge of kidney transplant. Billy loved his job in "The Body," turning trash into urine (just a fancy word for "pee"). His world gets even better when he experiences a great big adventure. Billy describes his motivation for keeping the "New Body" strong and healthy and expresses gratitude for all she does to keep him healthy too.

You're in need of a living kidney donor, but you're not sure how to go about the process. You've been told to share your story with family and friends-but striking up a conversation about your need for a kidney transplant (and search for a living kidney donor) is the most nerve-racking conversation you can imagine. Whether you're trying to avoid dialysis or be "free of the machine," this book can help get you there. In Pursuit of a Better Life provides communication principles, campaign strategies, template letters and old fashion relationship skills that can instantly create a desire to help. In this book, the author shares strategies taught in her motivational seminars and webinars, and with her mentoring and coaching clients. Living her best life possible as a preemptive (live-donor) kidney transplant recipient, the author invites her readers to proactively engage as their own best advocate and "join her at the top," where dreams do come true. Known as the quintessential marketing plan for finding living kidney donors, this book reveals strategies rarely discussed in your doctor's office or transplant center. Uncover this wildly successful path for attracting potential kidney donors today! ABOUT THE AUTHOR The highlight of Risa Simon's life was the day an unexpected, unrelated, living kidney donor offered to give her a kidney and tests revealed a sister-like match. That day didn't come easy-and it might never have if she wasn't willing to become a proactive contender, competing for her best life possible. Risa knows all too well what it's like to be a kidney patient trapped in a hopeless sinkhole headed towards dialysis. As she watched her renal function numbers decline, her emotions escalated. The thought of surrendering her sense of control over her future consumed her thoughts and immobilized her dreams. Unwittingly, she discovered a new paradigm after attending a kidney patient conference. The presentation she attended caused an awakening that compelled her to stand before her disease and use her voice to proactively secure her best choice - a transplant before dialysis. Today, Risa is living her best life ever as a preemptive (live-donor) transplant recipient. Her passion for helping others reflects in the names of her principal firms, The Proactive Path and the TransplantFirst Academy, a non-profit (501c3) organization leading the way to better outcomes. As an enthusiastic "positive-disruptor," she's dedicated her life to inspiring eligible kidney patients to bypass dialysis (or become dialysis-free) by proactively seeking live-donor transplant opportunities. Known for her trailblazing patient empowerment strategies, she invites her fans and followers to "join her at the top" - where dreams can come true.

Kinsey's Kidney Adventure is an educational children's book based on the real-life journey of a brave little girl who must confront the realities of organ donation after being diagnosed with a rare medical condition. Kinsey's story teaches children the value of compassion, courage, and resilience in the face of hardship.

Kidney Transplantation, Bioengineering, and Regeneration: Kidney Transplantation in the Regenerative Medicine Era investigates how the field of regenerative medicine is changing the traditional premises of solid organ transplantation, specifically within the field of kidney transplantation. In Section 1, chapters illustrate the state of the art in kidney transplantation as well as the research behind the bioengineering and regeneration of kidney organoids for therapeutic renal replacement. In Section II, chapters catalog the technologies that are being developed and the methods that are being implemented to bioengineer or regenerate kidneys in order to restore function, while critically highlighting those technological advances which hold the most promise. The book thus encompasses clinical renal transplantation, tissue engineering, biomaterial sciences, stem cell biology, and developmental biology, as they are all applied to the kidney. Focuses on the synergy between renal organ transplantation and regenerative medicine, highlighting the advances within transplantation, bioengineering, regeneration, and repair Educates the transplant community on important regenerative medicine research pertinent to kidney transplantation Develops a shared language for clinicians, surgeons, and basic researchers to reach across the fields of transplantation and regenerative medicine, and facilitate more productive investigation and research Catalogs the technologies being developed and methods being implemented to bioengineer or regenerate kidneys to restore function

Lucy and Jack have a very ill father who needs a Kidney Transplant. This book explores a little of the impact on the lives of the family, in a way designed to be helpful and non-threatening to children who may share a similar experience. Lisa Burnapp, Lead Nurse Living Donation at NHS Blood and Transplant also Consultant Nurse, Living Donor Kidney Transplantation at Guy's & St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, described the book saying "This is a delightful addition to the other books that Anita and Simon have written for children about living with kidney disease in the family. By combining simple narrative and beautiful illustrations, they have managed to explain difficult concepts about organ donation and kidney transplantation in a way that speaks to both adults and children. Their personal experiences and insights add a warmth and depth that cannot fail to resonate with anyone who is facing similar challenges. This is not only a book for children, it is a book for families everywhere who are learning to cope with the rigors of kidney disease and its treatments." Written by a nurse and doctor in order to help explain to their own children, this book will help families talk about some of the issues around renal dialysis and transplantation. This edition also contains notes in the back of the book. These notes are aimed at helping adults explain and discuss the story with the child. They also contain practical examples of things that the authors have found helpful for their children.