NN&I - August 2010

AFTERTHOUGHTSCompiled by Rebecca Zumoff 44 Nephrology News & Issues August 2010Subscribe to our free eNewsletter at www.nephronline.comWorld's longest-surviving ESRD patient honoredOn June 22, Northwest Kidney Centers presented. Robin Eady, MD, the Clyde Shields Distinguished Service Award, given to people who make signifi-cant contributions to the welfare of kidney patients through advocacy, clinical care, or research. Suffering from severe kidney failure and about a week from death, London resident Robin Eady flew to Seattle in February 1963. He was so weak he had to be car-ried off the Boeing 707 as he prepared to become one of the world's first long-term dialysis patients. Long-term dialysis treatment at the time was considered experimental. It had started only three years earlier when Belding Scribner, MD, at the University of Washington devel-oped a shunt that would make it possible for patients to receive ongoing dialysis treatment. Prior to Scribner's inven-tion, doctors couldn't repeatedly access a patient's blood-stream, meaning that only patients with short-term kidney failure could receive dialysis. Doctors first implanted Scribner's shunt in the arm of machinist Clyde Shields in March 1960 and regular dialysis helped him survive another 11 years. Eady met Shields dur-ing his own early dialysis treatments in Seattle. Eady underwent dialysis treatment beginning at age 22. He continued on dialysis for 24 years, and he has lived with a kidney transplant for 23 years. He has been a vigorous and vocal advocate of living a full life despite chronic disease. Bassist for the Kinks, dies of kidney failurePete Quaife, 66, the original bassist for the 1960s rock group The Kinks died June 23 of kidney failure in Herlev, Denmark. Quaife played on the band's early hits, like "You Really Got Me," and "All Day and All of the Night." Quaife left the band in 1969, saying he "grew tired of the rock 'n' roll" life-style. In 1998 he was diagnosed with kidney failure and began dialysis. Quaife authored and illus-trated a book of cartoons called "The Lighter Side of Dialysis." Most of his cartoons were drawn while at the Belleville Dialysis Clinic near Toronto. The Kinks were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, and Quaife played with them at the showcase concert. RSN hosts YouTube contest for CKD patientsThe Renal Support Network hosted its first YouTube video contest for people with chronic kidney disease. The patient organization said the videos share tips and strategies on how to manage CKD. Videos will be judged by a panel of media experts and people with kidney disease for appropriateness, originality, creativity, and informative recommendations. "Seeing fellow patients live a joyful life helps us see a future for ourselves," said Lori Hartwell, founder and presi-dent of RSN. "Our written essay contest has become so popular we wanted to try a more dimensional medium." The deadline for submission was July 18, and eligible vid-eos had to be between 30 seconds and 4 minutes. Winners were named July 26 on RSN's website (www.rsnhope.org) and on www.kidneytimes.com. Each winner received $100. Afterthouths_NNI0810_3.indd 44 7/20/10 2:02:47 PM