One in a Million, or Close Enough

In 2010, an estimated 129,000 Americans will be in end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), receiving or in need of dialysis. Of those, less than half will be undertaking peritoneal dialysis, opting instead for the more commonly known hemodialysis.

At the Kaiser Permanente facility at which I receive care, only about 130 patients are on PD. The nurse told me that in Southern California, there are no doubt thousands of PD patients.

Thousands may sound like a lot, but not in such a populous area.

Taking the 129,000 figure above, ESKD patients make up only .04 percent of the population, figuring a total U.S. population of 304 million. PD patients probably account for no more than .01 percent of the U.S. population, so I am one in 10,000.

If you also factor in coronary heart disease, at least two heart attacks, and juvenile-onset diabetes of 37 years, we're probably getting close to one in a million.

I always wanted to be one in a million, but I sure wish it was for something other than this.