Steak and Kidneys

So I'm looking for collapsible IV poles and came across some practical gift ideas for my mom. Then I kind of got sad thinking that a bag that keeps her PD bags warm and has a top organizer bag for the rest of her dialysis kit is a good gift. Right now she uses a heating pad to warm the bags but she sometimes forgets them and then they are too hot to use right away. Every now and then I think about it too long and I seesaw between gratitude that although her kidneys (and mine) have failed, there is a way to stay alive, and despair that she literally has to dialyze to live. Reminded of her mortality every 4-6 hours. Every day.

At any rate, my browsing and clicking eventually brought me to the National Kidney Foundation page. I thought about the activism that comes from understanding how a particular disease ravages you or a person you love. I watched part of the previously aired Patrick Swayze interview this week. Pancreatic cancer is so incredibly cruel, if for no other reason than it doesn't seem terribly important to pay attention to until it is far, far too late. But a person only has so much energy to devote to activism of any sort and so my cause du jour is kidneys. So when the random people on the corner who have asked me at least 8 times if I have 5 minutes to talk about gay rights, Greenpeace, or beautiful starving kids, I say no (politely), even though they phrase the question to make you feel like an ass and horrible human being when you say you don't have time for all of those important issues.

But back to mom. I finally guilted her into coming for a visit for Columbus Day and now I've got to firmly address the room of shame so that it can serve as her clean room to do her exchanges. I also promised I would have an IV pole here so she doesn't have to worry about transporting one or taking the one she uses at work (I know, I don't know why the woman insists on working, all I need is the suggestion of a scratchy throat to call in). So this wild and crazy single girl is hanging out on a Friday night canvassing Google for IV poles and working herself into a funk.

I know I've mentioned this before but she's single, boys.