Kidney Disease on Men in Trees?

[AlohaBeth]

Hey all -- I don't watch the show Men in Trees - but we were watching Supernanny and saw the pre-show recap thing for it and saw some guy telling Anne Heche he has "degenerative kidney disease" 

So all of you Men in Trees watchers -- I am curious what the plot line is there...  I have googled it but didn't get much info.  Kind of nice to see CKD getting at least a little spotlight on a hit show.

[Sluff]

The other day there was a kidney transplant on Touched by an Angel, touching story line but not very real turn of events.

[Romona]

There were a few episodes of ER dealing with kidney transplant.

[AlohaBeth]

I remember the one on ER - where the father gave the daughter the kidney and it rejected and he wanted her to take his other one so he shot himself.  Yeah, that was sad...  but again, a bit unrealistic -- And grey's anatomy I am pretty sure had a kidney transplant - and definitely other transplants on...

I woke up at about 3am this morning because I realized that I posted this in the wrong section (I know-  pathetic huh?) -- so if someone wants to move it - that's good with me... 

[KT0930]

Gray's Anatomy also had one where a man was waiting on a heart transplant, and his daughter was brought into the ER after a car wreck. She died, and he was offered her heart. When I saw the episode, I thought it was a bit unrealistic, but then a couple of weeks ago, I saw a news article talking about a very similar situation. I'll see if I can find it.

I used to watch Men in Trees, but haven't in a long while. I didn't know it was still on the air!

[KT0930]

Found it! The first article was from 1994 in the NY Times. The second link is the article I had read; it's about the same family, written ten years later.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B05EFDB1039F935A1575BC0A962958260

http://www.theoaklandpress.com/stories/062004/oak_062062.shtml

[paris]

I watched Men in Trees last night.  It showed the guy going to the doctor and being told his creatinine was high and his gfr was elevated.  Talked about him needing a transplant.  He didn't tell his friends when they asked how his appointment was.  So, it will be interesting to see how they develope the story line.

[kelliOR]

Found it! The first article was from 1994 in the NY Times. The second link is the article I had read; it's about the same family, written ten years later.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B05EFDB1039F935A1575BC0A962958260

http://www.theoaklandpress.com/stories/062004/oak_062062.shtml

WOW  !  What an amazing story!
Thanks, KT

[Mimi]

I watch 'Men in Trees', too.  Last night night the Dr. told him it was going to be a hard journey, with dialysis and
then transplant.  He asked if he had anyone to help him.  Poor guy, didn't tell a sould about it.
 
Mimi

[paris]

That is kind of like I was at the beginning. I was in the hospital and when the doctor came in and told me what was going on--I thought if I don't say it out loud to anyone, it won't be true.  Of course, it was early Thanksgiving Day (around 7 am) and none of my family was there with me.  I don't usually watch the show, but would like to see how they present the rest of the story.

[AlohaBeth]

Thanksgiving.  go figure.  I hate thanksgiving.

Anyways - I remember that Greys Anatomy, it was interesting...  And of course they had the whole Danny (wasn't that his name) who needed the heart transplant...

that was a great article too, thanks for posting.

[okarol]

I had tivo'd Men In Trees and finally watched the episode where Cash (I think that's his name?) needed a kidney. He was in the hospital having dialysis. The doc comes in and says "Well, we were able to get you on the transplant list." (WTF? That was quick!) Then Ann Hecht's character comes by the next day to visit and she almost faints cuz she's given blood to be tested as a donor (again, really quick service at that hospital!) Then her boyfriend gets really cranky as he resents the fact that she didn't discuss it with him first. She finds out she is a match, but in the meantime, hairdresser guy decides he's tired of doing volunteer work to rebuild his karma, so he steps up to donate. So 3 days on dialysis, already on the list, 2 people tested, both match. What a fairy tale!

[willieandwinnie]

If they are going to air these shows, they should make them true to life experiences, that's why the general population has no clue about dialysis or transplants. Kind of pisses me off. 

[kellyt]

I never watch that show, but I saw the description on the menu so I watched.  I had no idea what was going on because it was the last 1/2 hr that I saw.  He was big, strong, healthy looking and gorgeous.  He was in a hopspital bed the whole time - don't know why.  "Anthony" from Sex and the City (love him!!!) decorated his room all Hawiian (too cute) and then decided to be his donor.  In a nutshell...

 I guess those guys are normal characters, so his storyline should continue in some respect.  I've set it on my DVR to record weekly.

[AlohaBeth]

All I know is the story line is a little stupid an unrealistic...  BUT - Cash is insanely hot.

[Falkenbach]

That's why I like the real life medical shows. Just love them.

I watched a kidney transplant operation and was just transfixed (I watched this after my own transplant, I don't know whether that is a good thing lol, I wonder if it would have worried me or comforted me if I had seen it beforehand).