My 300th review is a meaningful one, & I felt that Dr. Thomas Tasaki, as my nephrologist (kidney…read moredoctor), warrants a review of his passion & desire in helping his patients w/ chronic kidney disease. What is important about this review is that because of Dr. Tasaki, I am currently on active status for a kidney transplant at Queen's Medical Center since 7/8/20 w/ an approximate 3-year wait from that date for a deceased donor kidney or sooner if there is a living donor.
Dr. Tasaki graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School in 1978 & did his residency at UCLA Medical School. He is well renown as a kidney specialist, respected by his peers, & is a consultant to many local hospitals. When I had researched years ago in vetting various nephrologists to be my choice doctor, I was impressed by his credentials at that time, & thus, was my choice; I have had no regrets, as he has undoubtedly lived up to it! He is a most compassionate doctor & always giving freely of his time to his patients, as he welcomes phone calls from them any time of the day of the week. During appointments, he is very thorough in explaining line by line in detail of your lab report & answers your questions fully until you understand, without any time limitation. Likewise, he'll explain in laymen's terms your kidney issue & options available.
With my slowly declining kidney function several years ago, Dr. Tasaki suggested that I look into kidney transplantation, as I would be a good candidate. I foolishly poo-pooed that suggestion until he brought it up again in 2020. He wanted me to attend a free informational kidney class, which I graciously obliged. This 6-week class (each class was 3 hours), called Aloha Kidney, was taught by a retired nephrologist, Dr. Ramona Wong. It was the best thing I did, as I learned so much about the importance of our kidneys, how they function, what the lab tests meant, diet choices, & options available. This class is highly recommended for those with chronic kidney disease or anyone who has an interest in it, whether you are at-risk, caring for one who has kidney disease, or just wants to learn more.
After the class ended, the ball started rolling. My eagerness resulted in long & many discussions with Dr. Tasaki. My options would be: 1) long-term dialysis, which only treats the problem & involves lifestyle changes to diet & time restrictions; 2) not do anything, which would ultimately result in death due to organ failure; & 3) getting a kidney transplant, which would allow my life to revert back to normal. My choice was kidney transplantation, so I completed the detailed application & gave it to Dr. Tasaki to include his comments, who then referred it to the Queen's Transplant Center (QTC).
During the next three months, the QTC instructed me to take a variety of medical tests to determine whether I was a viable candidate: dental; chest x-ray; pap smear; mammogram; heart tests; colon cancer screening; TB test; blood tests; & evaluations by a transplant surgeon, transplant nephrologist, & multi-disciplinary team (social worker, pharmacist, dietician, financial coordinator). Having passed these tests, I was then approved to be on the waitlist. Based on my blood type, I was told I had a 3-year wait for a deceased kidney & would be actively monitored to ensure that I would be able to withstand the surgery.
What followed afterwards was my ongoing research of the transplant process, as I had so many questions that needed answers, & in fact, am still learning. While my kidneys are functioning at 9% (under 15% qualifies you to be on the waitlist), I am fortunate that I am not yet on dialysis (5% will require dialysis). A living kidney donor is preferable over a deceased kidney, as it lasts longer; & the donor need not be the same blood type match, as it is considered a "paired exchange," where the donor's kidney may go to another recipient, & I would move up the waitlist to receive an available kidney from another donor. A living donor would continue to have a long, normal, & healthy life w/ one kidney; & all donor costs are covered by the recipient's insurance or the QTC. Yes, there is so much more info that most people don't know about.
Dialysis would restrict my present lifestyle; whereas, a new kidney will give me a longer lease of my active lifestyle. There are so many things that I want to do: spend time with our kids/grandkids in Maui & Toronto, traveling to appreciate differing cultures, & simply enjoy the blessings that our Lord gives us daily in experiencing joy in whatever we do. I would love to teach others who are in a similar situation as I am.
I thank Dr. Tasaki for his genuine caring for all his patients! I look forward to my kidney transplant & am grateful for his persistence in continuing to teach me about my kidney condition & not having it stop me from doing what I want to do in life. If you are in need of a nephrologist, I would undoubtedly recommend Dr. Tasaki!
