Plunge into a single drop of blood to see the myriad red blood cells that transport oxygen throughout your body. View your lungs and beating heart, and join red blood cells in their headlong rush through microscopic capillaries. See your kidneys and their tiny, intricate filtering apparatus. Penetrate deeper still to view the molecule that regulates red blood cell production, erythropoietin (EPO), produced by the kidneys. Witness firsthand the miracle of a single stem cell developing into multiple red blood cells. As kidney tissue deteriorates due to CKD, the kidneys can’t produce enough EPO to stimulate red blood cell production. The result is anemia. Doctors can help manage anemia with medications, but late-stage kidney disease patients may have another option: a kidney transplant.