Did you awaken this morning when your kidneys gave you a gentle nudge? Or, was it more like an urgent jolt that caused you to spring out of bed and make a mad dash to the bathroom?
Whisper a word of thanksgiving for your kidneys today! It’s World Kidney Day and your kidneys are mighty organs within our miraculous bodies. Kidneys filter the toxins in our blood. In one day, your kidneys can filter 52 gallons of blood, working day and night. Kidneys help regulate your blood pressure and your electrolytes and monitor Vitamin D intake that promotes strong bones.
Sure, it’s easy to be filled with gratitude if you have healthy kidneys. If you’re one of the lucky ones, take care of them. At your annual physical, ask your doctor, how are my kidneys doing? Be vigilant and know your blood pressure and blood sugar. Be involved in your health and you can head off kidney disease.
But, what if your kidneys are diseased, failing or already failed? What about if your kidneys are not in good shape? What if they have made you sick, made you cry, and make you just plain miserable?
My mother was someone with diseased kidneys. Kidney disease took the lives of the people she loved most, over and over and over again, and then it struck her.What I most remember was a comment my mother made to me while she was in the hospital and very, very ill. She said, “I can’t be mad at my kidneys for failing, after all they got me to this point in life and I’ve had a wonderful life.” She fought to live for ten years on dialysis and battled hysterectomy, bowel obstruction, parathyroid surgery, snapped quad muscles that kept her bedridden for eight and a half long months. There were tears, anguish and much suffering. But, somehow she kept her joy with peeks of humor amid the pain. It is a testament to her grit and determination. The lessons she taught me about life and, most of all, living life joyfully are astounding.
Celebrate kidneys today! If possible, reach out a hand to anyone not blessed with good kidneys. Please pray for a cure, contribute to research, or help someone suffering with daily life! Remember to live joyfully!