How I spent World Kidney Day - with photos - "Who Lives?"

[okarol]

Last night I went to the premiere of the play "Who Lives?" produced by Lori Hartwell and the Renal Support Network. The small theater was great for this intimate subject.
The play was well done - it really gave you an idea of the ethical and moral issues faced by the "Life and Death Squad" who determined which small pool of people would get dialysis, and who would not. You also got a sense of the devastation felt when a patient was given the diagnosis of END STAGE renal failure. It was basically a death sentence.
Bill Peckham and his mom Susan were there. It was great to see them. A big surprise was the arrival of Anna Bennett (IHD Member meinuk) all the way from New York!
We had dinner before the play and I got to meet  Bonnie Parks Markuson and her sister Diane. They came down from the Seattle area for the play. It was great to hear Bonnie's story. She's a real inspiration. She was a teenager when the dialysis committee selected her to be saved and granted her dialysis. You can read her story here "The Chosen One" http://www.kidneytimes.com/article.php?id=20070417033027

Photos:
Theater
Bill Peckham and mom Susan
Lori Hartwell and Sharon Pahlka and  Bonnie Parks Markuson
Tim and Robert from the Renal Support Network
Bill, Anna and Susan
Me, Sharon and Lori

[monrein]

Great shots Karol.  What a great way to spend the day.

[Zach]

 

[Rerun]

I'm glad you got to attend Karol.

                                     

[kitkatz]

Cool. I have a date with the play Sunday coming up. I am taking a friend of mine who is on dialysis also. Thanks to Karol for procuring the tickets. It made things so much easier for us.

[okarol]

Cool. I have a date with the play Sunday coming up. I am taking a friend of mine who is on dialysis also. Thanks to Karol for procuring the tickets. It made things so much easier for us.

After the play on Sunday they are having a "Talk Back" where some of the actors and patients will stay after the show and have an open discussion with the audience.

[Wattle]

   Great Photos Karol.

On a side note.... I loved the pic of Bill, Anna and Susan. Anna you look fantastic! I am so happy for you.   

[Romona]

  Thanks for sharing the photos. 

[okarol]

Anna does look great!
Here's Bill's review of the play http://www.billpeckham.com/from_the_sharp_end_of_the/2009/03/who-lives-gets-the-job-done-.html

[David13]

Spectacular!  Thanks for shaing, Karol! 

[Sluff]

Wish I could have been there to visit with my Taxi driver again. Thanks Karol for wearing the shirt you had on. 

[paddbear0000]

Thanks for the great pictures Karol! Everyone looks  fantastic. I would love to see the play, but it's going to have to travel to Ohio for that to happen!

[okarol]

Thanks Karol for wearing the shirt you had on. 

That reminds me - a young woman came up to me before the show started, looked at my IHD hoodie and said "I had to ask, is that site for real?" I told her "Yes! Come join us!" I hope she does!

[Slywalker]

Thanks for sharing the pictures.  Good looking crew.

Sandyb

 

[okarol]

Jenna and I went to the play today - and saw Kitkatz with her friend too. I loved seeing it again, subtle differences from the Thursday night performance made it better for me. Afterward there was a Q&A with Lori Hartwell, Bonnie (the teen who was one of the chosen few), the director, and cast members who are kidney patients. It was great to hear how it came together, and the personal stories of the participants. The other cast members were there too, and seemed as interested and supportive as you'd expect from close friends. It was really heart warming.

Kitkatz will post more photos.

You can read meinuk's review here: "Who Lives? We do." http://www.billpeckham.com/from_the_sharp_end_of_the/2009/03/who-lives-we-do.html

[Bill Peckham]

The play got a big thumbs up and was selected as the pick of the week here
http://www.reviewplays.com/03-09-wholives.htm

[Zach]

The play got a big thumbs up and was selected as the pick of the week here
http://www.reviewplays.com/03-09-wholives.htm

The only problem is at the end of the review where the reviewer doesn't seem to understand that Medicare pays for dialysis today:

"Now all we have to worry about is if the insurance company will deem it a necessary procedure and will agree to pay for it, or refuse to cover it. Is there a committee for that, I wonder?"

[kitkatz]

Here are the pics from the play. The play makes you think. However I did not like the ending.



These are from the round table discussion after the play.

[kitkatz]

More after play pics.

[Zach]

Great pics, Kitkatz!

[kitkatz]

More pics...

1. My friend Jennifer, Me, the actor from the play and Jenna.

2 and 3 Jenna and Okarol

[kitkatz]

My friend and I wrote a review of the play for her Fresenius Center.

WHO LIVES? REVIEW
  We recently went to see the play “Who Lives?” at the Pico Playhouse in Los Angeles. It was sponsored by RSNHope.com. Lori Hartwell worked hard to put together this presentation about the committees that were formed in Seattle, Washington in the 1960s.  This was a dramatic presentation about who would be the first to be put on the new dialysis machines.  It was a choice between going on dialysis or death for the early patients.  The committees had to make choices on whether a patient was a productive member of society and would benefit from the treatment.
     The play made you think as it went along.  It showed the differences between today’s dialysis treatments and what happened in the near history of dialysis. The choices made yesterday for those early dialysis patients changed history.  The play is a stirring representation of the way things were for the 1960s patients.  The play touches on subjects such as dialysis history, choices, prejudice and family, as well as the emotional states the people involved find themselves in.
     Several of the actors are transplant patients.  They chose to be in the play to help to present part of the history of something close to their hearts. One of the actors is Dale Davis - he got a kidney from KABC news anchor Phillip Palmer.
     Tickets can be purchased at the box office of the theater on Pico Blvd, or through RSNHope.org.   It is a worthwhile use of your time.  It has been picked as THE play to see in Los Angeles this week!

[willieandwinnie]

Thanks for sharing everybody. I wish they have it all over the country.