In My Generation?

My uncle, Bobby Florine, had PKD. He died while on dialysis. He was an Air Force pilot in WW2. A recently issued Franklin Mint replica of his “8 Ball” P-38 aircraft commemmorates his tour of duty in Europe. He also represented the Florine name proudly as an Iowa farmer. As my mother said, “he contributed to society”.

I saw his family and my aunt Frances Florine recently. My cousins traveled long and far to celebrate her 83rd birthday. Like many Americans they are spread around the US. Like many Americans PKD runs in the family.

About 600,000 Americans have PKD. An increase in blood pressure is an early symptom. For most people, cysts and fluid builds up in the kidneys and the abdomen swells due to the enlarged kidneys. Eventually dialysis or a kidney transplant is the only life-saving option as the kidneys completely fail.

Some of my cousins have PKD and it's symptoms. One cousin teaches kindergarten. One day during a quiet moment a child asked why her belly was so big. After the initial tension of the awkward question she decided to honestly and carefully describe for the children what PKD was doing to her kidneys and why it had caused her belly to swell.

It takes a lot of strength to describe how PKD is ruining your kidneys to a classroom of children while wishing there was something - anything you could do to stop it. It takes personal strength to stay positive. But that’s life to families with PKD.

In my grandmother's generation PKD was a 100% killer. Dialysis and organ donation gave life to a few in my mother's generation. I pray that in my generation an effective treatment would offer a full and free life. If it does not come in my generation we need to appreciate the personal strength and challenges of those with PKD and help them if we can.