"I am a Survivor!" hoz's Profile

Surviving a catastrophic disease

I have been an active outdoorsman all my life. Climbing, caving, camping, canoeing. I would list fishing also but it doesn't begin with a "C" and I like alliteration.

In 1997 I came down with End Stage Renal Disease, which means my kidneys quit working. I was put on dialysis and spent 2 years doing CAPD. CAPD stands for "Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis". This is entirely different from hemodialysis. A catheter is surgically implanted into your abdomen and you introduce 2 liters of a sterile dextrose solution 4 times a day. YOU HAVE TO CARRY AROUND 2 LITERS OF FLUID IN YOUR ABDOMEN ALL THE TIME. At the end of 4 hours you drain out the old and introduce new solution.

Through the magic of osmosis the lining of the abdomen (called the "peritoneum ") exchanges the poisons that are usually excreted by your kidneys for the sugar in the solution. People think your have gained weight when actually the fluid in your abdomen is saving your life. Too me, CAPD was an alternative to Hemodialysis, where you have to be hooked up to a blood cleaning machine 3 times a week for 4 hours . With CAPD you are in charge, you do the exchanges at home, in the car,on the road, IN A CANOE in the middle of a lake... Anywhere, as long as you follow sterile conditions and take care to not get contaminated.

Complications are catheter infections (I had 1 in 2 years), your peritineum wearing out (it goes with time and will not make adequate exchange), peritonitous (infection of the peritoneum, I had one infection stemming from the bad catheter), and death. When you get infectedthe catheter has to come out and a new one is placed. In the mean time you must go on hemodialysis.

To someone who is usually active and independent, it was HELL. I did my best to keep my spirits up. I was a "compliant" patient, but also an aggressive one. I learned all I could about the disease through the internet and exchanging e-mails with other patients. Often I had innovative answers from around the world before my doctors or nurses at the clinic knew about them. But after 2 years I was fading.

My son Hoz-B donated a kidney to me on September, 29, 1999. THANKS SON! He is my true hero. I gave him life in pleasure, he gave me life in pain. A transplant donor has a much harder operation to recover, especially when they have the "open" proceedure. Nowadays they remove the kidney with a laproscope through a small hole. My son has a scar that runs under his left rib cage from his sternum to his side. He looks like he was bitten by a shark! Hoz-B and I often went camping together and we climbed a few mountains too. But the transplant operation was the greatest thing we did and the most selfless thing one person can do for another. I cannot thank my son enough for his gift of life.

I decided to take advantage of this new lease on life by rekindling an old joy, canoeing. I figured a canoe would take me into the wilderness quicker and without the drudgery of extended backpacking. Now I try to paddle year around and go on at least two extended wilderness trips a year. I am passionate about canoes! In the winter of 2000-2001 I built the Millennium Stripper. A 14' 10" woodstrip canoe. It is the one I am paddling in the picture.

On September 29th, 2004 my son and I will get together to celebrate 5 years of successful transplant. Raise a glass, Skol! Life is good!!!

Intro Updated Jun 10, 2004
Report Abuse

Comments (4)

Reply
- Report abuse
Stephen-KarenConn Jan 6, 2005 at 9:08 AM

Hi neighbor, Why not try "Catching fish," "Catfishing", "Codfishing," or even "Casting for fish?" Surely you can think of something. GRIN! Great home pages story - and a beautiful canoe too.
Reply
- Report abuse
suvanki Nov 30, 2004 at 5:06 PM

Birthday Greetings from Sheffield, Uk, Have A Great Day!
Reply
- Report abuse
Bwana_Brown Sep 21, 2004 at 11:46 PM

Hoz, a great Home Page! You have a great attitude regarding what life has inflicted on you as a cross to bear. All the best to both you and your son!
Reply
- Report abuse
GinGinCoo Jun 11, 2004 at 7:00 AM

wonderful story .. you are a survivor, I'm happy for you and your family.... keep enjoying life and keep on canoeing! Jean