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Boehm has not let her kidney problem slow her down too much. though. "I have a very positive attitude," she said. "Basically, I'm an ambitious person. I can't sit around, I have to be busy." Having a "normal" day an be difficult for dialysis patient Linda Boehm, who has been awaiting a kidney transplant for three years now. - "Yirur energy level is usually very, very low," Boehm said. "it's very hard to get up and have a normal day." Presently, Boehm has a part time bookkeeping job and is a volunteer for the local Kidney Foundation. She also helps with the Waterloo Regional Police Association Boxing Club where she assists with bingos and does their books. However, travelling for Boehm is not as carefree as it sounds. Wherever she goes she must contact K-W Hospital to leave a number where she can be reached should a kidney become available. She must also carry dialysate with her, too. Last year when she went to Florida, she took nine 30-pound boxes of the liquid with her. Dialysate is, simply, a fluid that acts as a substitute kidney. Dialysate remains in the body for four to six hours. "If it's done at the proper times during the day, you can leave it for up to 10 hours at night," Boehm ex- plained. “I travel a lot," she said. "I don't stay home unless I have to," she laughs. _ Each day, Boéhm exchanges two litres of dialysate four times a day. This rids her body of the wastes and toxins that kidneys normally remove. A A _ 7 These exchanges are all part of peritenial dialysis, a method where a tube is inserted into the abdomen. An extension tube attaches to it that allows the solution to drain and also to be replaced. The disease, glomerolonephritis, caused small filters in the kidneys to become closed off. Toxins were no longer filtering and her kidneys began to deteriorate and eventually, they ceased to function. "You juét generally are very, very tired and nauseous. By that point, you probably are already being treated by a doctor who is testing you for toxin levels." 7 "You can't eat a lot of really good stuff," she laughs. "Like chocolate, nuts, oranges, green beans." In choosing peritenial dialysis, Boehm takes the chance of contracting a peritonitis infection. She explained this as "very serious. You spend several days in the hospital in very much pain." Boehm has already fought off two bouts, one in December and again in January. To have a kidney transplant, Boehm must await a kidney that matches her tissue and blood type. A full match has a success rate of 85 per cent or more, said Boehm, while a half match drops slightly to a 75 to 85 per cent chance. Symptoms, Boehm said, are', retaining more fluid, skin turning color and just feeling awful. A change in diet is inevitable. Boehm said calcium pills are necessary. Phosphorous levels elevate out of control and some patients also have potassium level problems. - Boehm's kidney problem was first discovered in 1972. Her kidneys had not grown larger than the size of a seven-year-OWS, yet she was a teenager. - THE BAGEL BINN of course! LiRlll5 Should a body reject the kidney, the patient would Where is the only true BAGEL in K-W'? A wholesome old-fashioned bagel: No oils, fats or preserva- tives. 11 varieties to; every Simply the best around. The Bagel Bum Bakery a; Deli, for the people who know! 55 Erb St. E. Waterloo (Erb Centre) AM 88611487 T mm. Monday-Friday 8:30 am. Saturday Linda Boehm's twin daughters, Andrea (left) and Alison, understand their mother's situa- tion. go back on dialysis and wait for another chance. "They just keep on trying 'til they get it right, I guess." " _ - __-- l -- _ Boehm has a brother who is a willing full match. But, Boehm said, "He's got a life too, and he's doing very well with his life. He's getting married soon," she said. "So, I'd rather see him get ahead." Having a normal day is difficult for Waterioo's Linda Boehm Wendy McCreary Chronicle Staff WATERLOO CHROMCLE, WEDNESDAY, FEAMN_Afe_Y 26. was - PAGE 5 Once a kidney is found it can not necessarily be put in. The recipient must be in good health. This means no infections of any kind. Infections, Boehm said, "suppress your antibodies, your immune system, ba- sically." This has been a problem for her in the past. Boehm has recurring sinus infections, "I had just had surgery on my sinuses and about a week later, a kidney came up and I couldn't go for it, which was really a let down." The main reason Boehm is looking forward to the transplant is because of the frustration of wanting to be busy but not having the energy. "I've talked to transplant patients and they say one of the first things you notice, other than you get a real good appetite, you can taste your food, is you have energy," she said. “I can't believe that I'll be feeling awake after about 10 years. That, I'm looking forward to quite a lot." Boehm stresses the importance of people being made aware of organ shortages. "It's so important to people like myself who want to go on and lead useful lives. They need to feel that they can do something with their lives, because they don't have the energy," she said. "Everybody likes to feel like they're accomplishing something, but you don't have that get-up-and-go to do it." In 1979, before Boehm started dialysis. she gave birth to twin girls. Because of the doctors' concerns, she spent the last month of her pregnancy in the hor pital. Boehm said it will be great to say' "Hey, I feel great! ,, Instead of, "Oh boy, I don't want to do this but I have to." Now six years old, Andrea and Alison, have an understanding of their mother's situation. The girls live with Boehm‘s mother presently, to keep their lives on "an even keel." Boehm said. It's difficult not to have them with her, but "at the same time. it's terrific that my mother has been willing to do this for me. My whole family has been very supportive, in that respect-that they'll look after my children for me," she said. "It means a lot to me and it takes a lot off my mind." / Boehm's lifestyle will be greatly affected by her condition until she can get a successful transplant. Just visiting friends requires her to take along her dialysate, let alone lugging it on trips. One good thing though is that if necessary, dialysate can be delivered to her destination. However, matters are complicated by the fact that the dialysate must be heated. This is most easily done with a microwave. Boehm didn't have one the first year though and had to use a heating pad. That took hours and required them to be plugged in all day. "Sometimes the dialysate got too warm, and that can destroy some of the substances in the dialysate." It also burns out the heating pads. "I went through two or three in the first year. There's no point in going back on the five-year warranty because they just won't accept it." ' The local Kidney Foundation will be campaigning the whole month of March. It hopes to raise $80,000 which will go toward research, public education and services to patients in this community. Things are a bit easier now, Boehm said, "Pretty well everywhere I go now, all my friends that 1 go to visit, have a microwave, which is wonderful."