Watching Rachael Ray

Cojo is back again today, this time to speak of things far more personal then the normal red carpet fluff. He’s there with his memoir, Glamour, Interrupted, to talk about his 2004 diagnosis with polycystic kidney disease. After a failed transplant and dialysis, his mother donated her kidney for a successful transplant. He talks about seeing the light “And it ain’t pretty!” and his drugged fantasy of planning his funeral - with Rachael there sitting next to Queen Elizabeth! That’s scary!

Cojo now looks back on the experience as one of empowerment that helped him learn a lot about himself and his inner strength. He’s discovered the kind of gratitude that feeds the soul. He now shares his story in order to raise awareness and give hope for others with kidney disease.

Then he shares the story of two couples whose husbands donated their kidneys to save each other’s wives through a unique program at John’s Hopkins University - if John wanted to donate his kidney to someone that was a match, they would find a similar person to match with his wife. It ended with them swapping, each husband giving up the kidney to the other mans wife. When they finally met face to face, it was instant family. They’ve just had their one year anniversary and both women are doing well!

Cojo says that his experience was foisted on him because he ha a “really big trap” and can spread the word about the miracle of Kidney transplants, how you can give someone a kidney while you’re still living and take them away from the hell they’re existing in.

Then - remember back in October when Trey Laird announced the Gap Casting call for the cutest kids? Well, after 800,000 entries the choices have been made! It was all about the eyes, and how the characters of the kids came alive in the picture. The four winners - chosen by 500,000 American votes, are here and couldn’t be cuter!

Today’s incredible person from Rachael’s new Community of Incredible People is Troy Lynn Lavigne who wants to see kids jumping around and eating healthy - plus educating their parents too! She’s works with the Head Start early learning centers by teaching them songs and dances about eating healthy, and gets to have the first taste at the kitchen table of what’s for dinner tonight - Spanish Chorizo and Chicken Chili. Be sure to check out Choosy Kids too!