I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: News Articles => Topic started by: natnnnat on September 22, 2015, 04:10:38 AM
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Hi there IHDers! Long time no post! But I came across this article about Bill Peckham, posted to an Australian dialysis group. My old mate Bill, still making headlines as ever.
It doesn't seem to be posted here already, so here goes:
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/donors-recognize-25-year-dialysis-milestone-for-northwest-kidney-centers-patient-and-advocate-bill-peckham-300145374.html
The online version has some kind pictures of our handsome friend.
SEATTLE, Sept. 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- On Sept. 20, 1990, Bill Peckham of Seattle started dialysis treatment when his kidneys failed as a result of chronic kidney disease. Since then, he's become a nationally recognized dialysis advocate, blogger, dedicated volunteer leader with Northwest Kidney Centers, and a key force in establishing the Kidney Research Institute.
He volunteered as a trustee of Northwest Kidney Centers for 12 years, serving as board chair from 2007 to 2009 – while working full-time as a sign maker and setting the example for other dialysis patients on how to live life to the fullest: He's traveled to 32 countries and managed to give himself hemodialysis treatments in such diverse locations as a raft on the banks of the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, the Vatican, Russia and South Africa.
To commemorate Peckham's 25th dialysis anniversary, donors including Dialysis Clinic, Inc. (DCI) of Nashville, Tenn., have made generous gifts to benefit kidney research and named a conference room in Peckham's honor at Northwest Kidney Centers' Seattle dialysis clinic at 15th Avenue and Cherry Street.
And NxStage is donating Peckham's well-traveled dialysis machine to Northwest Kidney Centers' one-of-a-kind dialysis museum at 700 Broadway in Seattle.
"Bill is one of the most incredible people that I know," said Dr. Doug Johnson, vice chair of DCI, who also was on the Grand Canyon raft trip. "He also happens to need dialysis treatments. Bill inspires me to be a better person and a better leader. He reminds me that life should not be a float trip. In life, as in the river rapids, we need to create our own momentum, face our challenges and work together."
"Sustaining life by using dialysis is not easy," said Peckham. "But with the support of Northwest Kidney Centers I have lived a life much like the one I was meant to live but for kidney disease: a life of work, travel and volunteering. I'm looking forward to the next 25 years."
Northwest Kidney Centers is a regional, not-for-profit, community-based provider of kidney dialysis, public health education, and research into the causes and treatments of chronic kidney disease. Founded in Seattle in 1962, it was the world's first dialysis organization. One of the 10 largest dialysis providers in the United States, it is a model in the field because of its high quality services, community connections and generous donor support. For more information, visit www.nwkidney.org.
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Thanks Natalya. It's good to see you.
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:2thumbsup; Congrats Bill!
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The link that natnnnat included is a good read. And you get to see Mr. Peckham LOOKING QUITE WELL! Twenty five years of success will do that to a person. Your own conference room?! Wow! Anyways, it was Peckham's youtubes (self cannulating, home dialyzing and of course, his infamous river raft trip) that helped my husband decide to do home hemo using the Nxstage cycler. Other than to the grocery store and back we're not big travelers per se but my husband does get out to work a full time semi-physical job. Nxstage and Peckhams youtubes have inspired us to keep going, as well as all the other successful ihd members on the site. Bottoms up for another 25! :beer1; :wine;
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Well done, Bill.
:waving;
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Wouldn't it be great if we could all have a "Northwest Kidney Center"!!
Congrats, Bill. You've well and truly beaten the odds.