Polycystic Kidney Disease: A Kidney for Joan

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Polycystic Kidney Disease: A Kidney for Joan

Venton Blandin Reporter

November 22, 2009
HUNTSVILLE, AL - As Thanksgiving approaches, we all tend to reflect on the blessings in our lives. This year, one Huntsville woman is grateful for something and someone special. You see, Joan Glotzbach is living with polycystic kidney disease, or PKD.

It's a kidney disorder passed down from one generation to the next where cysts form on the kidneys, causing them to become enlarged. The only way to survive PKD is to get a kidney transplant.

WHNT NEWS 19 sat down with Glotzbach to talk with her about the ordeal. Glotzbach has had nearly half a dozen opportunities to receive a kidney, but for one reason, or another it just didn't work out. Joan, who is a piano teacher, is about to get a new kidney from someone who appreciates her love for music.

Playing the piano is one of the few things these days that can make Glotzbach almost forget about the constant pain she endures.

At 62 years young, Joan's hoping she will be playing and teaching for years to come. If classical music is her favorite, dialysis is on the opposite end of the scale.

"Dialysis is hard. It's three days a week, but it is life. I'm so thankful for it," said Glotzbach.

Joan's been on dialysis for about five years. She needs the blood-filtering process to peck away the problems associated with polycystic kidney disease.

"Right now, I am shaking because it is like running five miles," added Glotzbach.

PKD runs in Joan's family. Her cousin, aunt, brother, and dad all died from it. PKD took her dad at age 33. Death was a song she knew how to play all too well.

She suddenly hit a bad note a few years back when she found out she too had the disease.

"I was always sweating it. I was asking myself am I going to make it," added Glotzbach.

One way to help Joan live longer is a kidney transplant. She's come close to finding a donor five times before. For a variety of reasons, none of the kidneys made it to her, but it looks like one will now.

Natasha Nashadka has been taking piano lessons from Joan for four years. Now she's going to give back to Joan something much more valuable. She's going to give her kidney.

"It was during the piano lesson that I told her it felt like the right thing," said Nashadka.

"I almost fainted. I did not know she was that much of a friend," added Glotzbach.

Natasha did a lot of soul searching before she made the offer.

"I did a lot of praying. I received an answer that made it very simple. Suddenly, it was like a non-decision," added Nashadka.

"It is overwhelming that I would have a friend that would do that," added Glotzbach.

Until the procedure can take place, this piano teacher is living life one note at a time.

"You just have to have faith that you are here for a reason. As long as I'm in his hands, I'm going to be fine with whatever happens," added Glotzbach.

PKD is inherited. If one parent carries the gene, the children have a 50% chance of developing the disorder. Joan Glotzbach has three children -- two daughters and a son. Her son, Joe, is the graphics artist here at WHNT NEWS 19. All three of Joan's kids have PKD as well. That's why they can't donate one of their own kidneys to their mom.

Joan's kidney transplant is scheduled for December 2, 2009. WHNT NEWS 19 follow her recovery and let you know how she's doing.

http://www.whnt.com/news/whnt-joan-glotzbach-pkd,0,5830474.story?track=rss