World Kidney Day

Today is world kidney day.

This seemingly random fact turns out to be not so random in my world.  Yesterday, my husband was diagnosed with kidney disease.  Likely it's not too serious and it can be slowed down with some medicine or at least that's the hope.  It's nice to finally have a diagnosis for the weird blood test results that have been coming back for several years, and we'll move on with our lives and a few more trips to a pharmacy.

Before today I didn't even know that there was an International kidney day.  I happened across that tidbit when doing some research on the new diagnosis this afternoon, and so right now I think it's kind of important.  I probably always will.

Here's the thing, we actually need a day like today.  I don't remind people about national cancer day*.  Everyone knows about cancer, everyone knows we need a cure.  Until 24 hours ago, I only vaguely was aware that people had kidneys, and somehow just assumed since it wasn't something anyone ever had asked me for a donation about, that modern medicine could fix them. In the past 24 hours, I have become painfully aware that that is not true, turns out we actually need International Kidney day.  Because really, when it comes down too it, we know squat about how to treat and prevent kidney diseases.  

Hub has had weird labs for ~5 years.  Just this fall this doctor decided it might be related to his kidney's and should be checked out.  Doctors need to know about kidney health.  Now that we know what's going on, there is very little information about what might happen.  As a scientist I'm pretty shocked about how little we know about the diseases that effect this rather important organ, despite the fact that we've been able to transplant them for years, we don't actually know how to keep them healthy. The world needs to know about kidney health.


So there you have it, my bit to get the word out.


*I'm not anti-cancer day or anything.  Cancer is horrible, and I've walked the walks, I donate, etc.  I just think that cancer awareness has made it mainstream, so the need for a special day to make people aware is no longer strictly necessary.