BOO!

Happy Halloween Kidney Warriors! I'm so happy to be celebrating my favorite night of the year. Influenced by the Celtic harvest festival called Samhain, a night when people wore costumes and lite bonfires to ward of ghosts and evil spirits. It was celebrated as fall turned into winter. After being Christianized in the eighth century by Pope Gregory the III it was celebrated as a dedication to the dead remembering the saints, martyrs and the dearly departed and was referred to as All Saints Day. Some of the Celtic traditions of wearing costumes and lighting bonfires remained. The evening before was called All Hallows Eve and that's what became our modern day Halloween and we celebrate it on October 31st. throughout the world. We still honor the tradition of wearing costumes and today we light jack~o~lanterns to ward off ghosts and evil spirits. Halloween has become a secular holiday and is geared for children as they go house to house trick~or~treating receiving treats along the way. It's a fun filled holiday filled with scary stories and haunted houses. The scarier the better. 

One of the best parts of Halloween is the sweet treats but as kidney patients we need to stay on track with our kidney friendly diets. So here is a list of some sweet treats you can feel free to indulge in: popcorn balls, jolly ranchers, lifesavers, gumdrops and jellybeans. A few treats that you want to eat in limited amounts would be caramel apples and toffee. You want to stay away from treats filled with chocolate and nuts as they contain lots of phosphors and potassium. As kidney patients we don't have to feel left out, we too can enjoy in the sweet treats of Halloween but we just need to follow some guidelines. 

Thankfully over the last few years more and more adults have been participating in Halloween activities like haunted hayrides, costume contests, and elaborate Halloween parties. These are just a few reasons why I love Halloween so much. The thrill of being scared and going trick~or~treating as a child with my parents are just a few of the fond memories of mine. But what I love the most about Halloween is the ability, for one night a year, to pretend your something/someone else. It's the one night of the year I get to pretend there is no kidney disease. I hope you enjoy your Halloween night and indulge in all those kidney friendly treats. 

Thank you for joining me once again for this Halloween edition of All Things Kidney. Keep on fighting all you Kidney Warriors! 

~ Kidney Blogger

A Fall Full of Fun Events

Happy Autumn and welcome back! It's nice to be back from my summer sabbatical. The last year has been extremely tough but coming out the other side has taught me a lot about life, death, and moving on. I'm glad to get back to what makes me happy, sharing my journey and spreading awareness about Kidney Disease and Organ Donation. Fall is my favorite time of year and I always look forward to all the upcoming events for the Northeast Kidney Foundation.

Northeast Kidney provides the following services through the donations they receive at all of their fundraising events:

* provide direct assistance to patients
* educate healthcare professionals, patients and the general public

* shape health policy
* increase organ donation

* raise awareness

The Catwalk for Kidney's has become one of Northeast Kidney's biggest events. It's so much fun; not only do you get to see great fashion but also get to hear inspiring stories of each models connection to Kidney Disease and Organ Donation. But you better bring some tissue as it will pull at your heart strings. The event includes a light brunch, unique shopping, and a silent auction. This is a fabulous way to spend a Sunday morning with family and friends. So save the date October 12th at the Saratoga Holiday Inn from 10 to 1pm. Come help support a wonderful organization and spread awareness for Kidney Disease and Organ Donation. For more information and to purchase tickets you can call 533-7880 or visit Northeast Kidney at:

http://www.healthykidneys.org/36-news/169-4th-annual-catwalk-for-kidneys-announced.html

This year I have to give a shout out to my long time friend Bonnalyn O'Sullivan! She's such an inspiring women and wonderful nurse. She will be one of the models strutting her stuff down the Catwalk. Thank you Bonnie for showing your support for this wonderful cause. 

There are also a few Kidney Walk/5K run events still left in 2014, If your in the Hornell, Oneonta or Poughkeepsie areas you still have time to register at  http://www.healthykidneys.org/:

09/20/2014

Hornell Walk.5K for Kidneys, YMCA - Hornell, New York

10/26/2014

Oneonta Walk for Kidneys, SUNY Oneonta - Oneonta, New York

11/09/2014

Walk over the Hudson for Kidneys, Walkway over the Hudson - Poughkeepsie, New York

All funds raised during these events are kept in the area in which there raised to help support the local kidney community with: 

• Patient assistance programs that help with medical, nutrition and housing needs
•  Free community screenings that can help identify people in early stages of kidney disease – when it’s most treatable
•  Public, patient and professional education
•  School based programs that can teach our kids about lifelong kidney health
•  Scholarship programs for young adults affected by kidney disease that helps them pursue higher education
•  Organ donor awareness including the recent launch of the Albany Kidney Connection, a vehicle for those waiting for a kidney transplant to be connected with potential altruistic donors
• And so much more

It look like it's going to be a fun fall with lots of Northeast Kidney events. I hope you can join in at these events to help raise donations and awareness for this worthy cause. Today there are 101,142 patients still waiting on the National Transplant List for a kidney transplant. This is why I write this blog to help spread awareness for all those waiting including myself. I've been waiting 6 years and 4 mos. We need more Organ Donors and New York we are way behind. As matter of fact, we are the 3rd worst in the country. We need to do better. If you have already signed up "Thank You" from the bottom of my heart if not you can sign up at  http://www.donatelifeny.org/

Thank you for joining me today and as always I look forward to your comments, questions, or concerns.

Keep on fighting, You Kidney Warriors! 

~Kidney Blogger

TGA Update & Photos

Welcome to the first update from the Houston Transplant Games of America. Team Northeast Kidney is bringing home the medals."Count 'em! 33 is the magic number. What, you say? 33 medals for Team Northeast at the 2014 Transplant Games of America. That is 23 Gold, 4 Silver and 6 Bronze" Says Carol LaFluer Team Manager of Northeast Kidney. Congratulations to Tom & Joan Jenkin's for receiving two gold medals each in this mornings cycling events. And to Tricia Shapiro who received a silver medal in the 5k race as well. Way to go Team Northeast. 

Below you can also find a link to the Transplant Games Opening Ceremonies last night:

http://new.livestream.com/accounts/9101896/tgahouston

*Team New England and Our Friend and Guest Blogger Robin Lataille at the Houston Games*
Team New England has done quite well at the Games and is bringing home gold and bronze medals.

*Scruffy Samuel making his appearance at the TGA*

Keep on fighting, You Kidney Warriors! 

~Kidney Blogger

Transplant Games of America Houston 2014

Howdy and welcome back Kidney Warriors! It's good to be sharing with you all once again. This week, I want to share updates and photos from the Transplant Games of America. They are currently being held from July 11th to July 15th in Houston, Texas. The Games represent the gathering of transplant recipients, living donors, and donor families to celebrate life. They "are a multi~sport festival event to help promote the need for Organ & Tissue donation. The purpose to show the world that transplantation is a treatment that does indeed work." 

Teams from all around the United States and Puerto Rico come to complete for medals and to enjoy their comrodery. These athletes range from ages 5 and under to 70+ and compete by gender in the following events: 

• 5K run (open to the public)
• Badminton
• Basketball
• Ballroom Dancing
• Bowling
• Cornhole (Bean Bag Toss)
• Cycling
• Golf
• Poker (Texas Hold'em)
• Racquetball
• Swimming
• Table Tennis
• Tennis
• Track & Field
• Trivia
• Volleyball

The Games are proof to the world that a transplant can truly be a "second chance at life." As someone who went through the transplant process, I can say with 100% confidence that it completely changed my life. I was blessed to have an amazing best friend who bravely stepped up to help save my life. Although my transplant only lasted five and a half years, I gladly wait for my second chance at a "second chance at life."  

Over the nest week I have athletes from Team Northeast and Team New England sending updates and photos that I look forward to sharing with you! It's an honor to be sharing the Games with you. They mean so much to me as someone who has gone through the transplant process and I hope one day to attend the Games myself. You can get more information about that Games at the following link http://www.transplantgamesofamerica.org/

I wish all the athletes the best of luck! Go Team Northeast and Team New England! 

Keep on fighting, You Kidney Warriors! 

~ Kidney Blogger

It's A Nice Day For A Walk

Welcome back Kidney Warriors! It's been a long, rough road of recovery and heartache. After eight weeks it's good to be back to feeling like myself. One of the hardest parts, after this surgery, was contracting pneumonia and being hospitalized for a week just six days after returning home from surgery. This really put me into a tailspin and made me wonder if I ever wanted to go through any of that again. But after two months of reflection, I realized that I needed to pursue getting a kidney transplant. The last month has also been tough with the death of my mentor and friend Kathe. She really me inspired to do the blog and it's been kind of tough writing it without knowing she was there to support me. But today I decided I needed to do in honor my friend. I think she would want me to continue sharing with all of you. I'm not sure how long I will continue but I knew had to finish what I started. 

*My Kidney Walk Team 2013*

I'm going back to where it all started with one of the first blog posts, The Albany Kidney Walk. On June 8th, 2014 The Northeast Kidney Foundation is holding their 11th Annual Kidney Walk/5K Run. This years event is moving back to the SUNY campus in Albany, NY. The SUNY campus allows Northeast Kidney to offer more family fun. Including pony rides, bounce house, and a celebrity dunk tank. The most important part of the Albany Kidney Walk/5K Run is this event is it biggest fundraising event for the Northeast Kidney Foundation. The Northeast Kidney Foundation helps provide:

• Patient assistance programs that help with medical, nutrition and housing needs
•  Free community screenings that can help identify people in early stages of kidney disease – when it’s most treatable
•  Public, patient and professional education
•  School based programs that can teach our kids about lifelong kidney health
•  Scholarship programs for young adults affected by kidney disease that helps them pursue higher education
•  Organ donor awareness including the recent launch of the Albany Kidney Connection, a vehicle for those waiting for a kidney transplant to be connected with potential altruistic donors
• And so much more

Registration to start a Walk Team or sign up for the 5K Run is now open. The 5K check~in time is 8 a.m. and the race starts at 9 a.m. The registration Fee for the 5K is $20.00 in advance and $25.00 the day of the event. The Walk Registration time starts at 9:30 a.m. and the walk starts at 11 a.m. There is no fee for the Walk but fundraising is encouraged for everyone. You can sign up for either the Walk or 5K Run at  https://healthykidneys.org/  to get started. 

The Northeast Kidney also holds Walk/5K Run events on the following dates and in the following areas: 

04/27/2014	Glens Falls Walk/5K for Kidneys, Adirondack Community College - Queensbury, New York
05/04/2014	Massena Walk/5K for Kidneys, Whalen Park - Massena, New York
05/18/2014	Binghamton Walk/5K for Kidneys, Otsiningo Park - Binghamton, New York
06/08/2014	Albany Walk/5K for Kidneys, SUNY Albany - Albany, New York
06/15/2014	Buffalo Walk /Tim Oehmler Memorial 5K, Delaware Park - Buffalo, New York
09/27/2014	Ithaca Walk/5K for Kidneys (LaChance 5K), Cass Park - Ithaca, New York
10/26/2014	Oneonta Walk for Kidneys, SUNY Oneonta - Oneonta, New York
11/09/2014	Walk over the Hudson for Kidneys, Walkway over the Hudson - Poughkeepsie, New York

I hope you will consider either going for a Walk or a Run on one of these dates or 

donating to one of these Walk teams or 5K runners. All funds that are raised in an area are kept in that area to help the local renal community. 

It's nice to be back Kidney Warriors! It's been a tough road but it's great to be sharing with all of you once again. As always, I look forward to your questions, comments or concerns. 

Keep on fighting, all you Kidney Warriors! 

~Kidney Blogger

March Sadness

Welcome back Kidney Warriors! It's with a very heavy heart that I write this blog post today. March has always been a cruel month for me, 19 years ago my mom was taken by Cancer. In five short months, it ripped through her lungs into her liver and took her life. It was some of darkest days of my life. From my misery I learned to be strong. It also taught me to be brave in face of the unknown. It taught me lessons which would help me survive the next 19 years especially when I was diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease.

On March 17th 2014 the cruel month of March would strike again. Kathe Lebeau, who was the Director of Patient Services and Public Policy at the Northeast Kidney Foundation, suddenly lost her battle with Chronic Kidney Disease. If it weren't for Kathe I would have never started writing this blog. She is the one who took me under her wing and became a mentor to me. Although I've only knew Kathe for a few short years she had become a very dear friend to me. Kathe and I had so much in common we were both fighting Chronic Kidney Disease and  both were NxStage Home Hemodialysis patients. Kathe also was an animal lover and rescued dogs this was something else we shared. 

 Kathe was a huge inspiration to everyone she encountered. She befriended every one she met and had a smile that was contagious. Although she lived everyday with a life threatening illness, Kathe still found the time to pursue her dream of becoming a clown. Spending much of her free time putting smiles on the faces of children. It was her way of sharing her joy of life with the world. She was known as "Kizmet" the clown which could not be more fitting. 

One of Kathe's biggest passions in life was being a patient advocate. She was a true Kidney Warrior! Everyday going into battle for all those suffering from kidney health issues. She often traveled to Washington D.C. to speak in front of the FDA and CMS to help forward the needs of kidney patients. The Kidney community has truly suffered a loss with Kathe's passing. She made an impact on every person she made contact with.

Kathe, I will miss you forever,  you touched my life and my heart! You will always remain an inspiration to me. I know you made a huge impact on the entire Kidney community. Rest in peace my dear friend. 

Keep on fighting,  you Kidney Warriors! 

~Kidney Blogger 

For All The Ladies....

Happy Friday and welcome back! Today I want to continue the discussion for American Heart Month and specifically about women and heart disease. Heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States. It takes the lives of more women than all cancers combined. What most women don't know is that the signs/symptoms of a heart attack can present differently for a women than a man. I hope this lifesaving information will be passed on. Please share these will all the women you know, whether they have heart disease or not. 

1. Chest pain and discomfort ~ This is the most common symptom of a heart attack however women can experience in a different way than men. For women it feels more like a squeezing or fullness feeling and can be anywhere on the chest not just the left side. It's a truly uncomfortable feeling.
2. Stomach pain ~ Sometimes stomach pain indicators of a heart attack are mistakeIFn as the flu, heartburn, or a stomach ulcer. Reoccurring or intense abdominal pain should be reported to your doctor immediately. . 
3. Pain in the jaw, arms, back or neck ~These symptom are often missed as a sign of a heart attack because most women are looking for a pain in chest or left arm. These pains can be sudden or gradual. These symptoms can be so intense they can wake you from a sound sleep. Any unusual pains that are above the waist should be reported to your doctor. 
4. Sweating ~ Breaking out in a nervous, cold sweat is a common symptom that many women experience during a heart attack. 
5. Shortness of breath, nausea, or lightheadedness ~ The sudden need to throw up, a feeling of shortness of breath or feeling like you've ran a marathon and haven't moved, and sudden dizziness are all symptoms of heart attack especially when all presented together. 
6. Fatigue ~Most women experience extreme fatigue even days before a heart attack. With such extreme fatigue that they feel like they can't even do the simplest of tacks like walking to the bathroom.

IF YOU HAVE ANY OF THE SIGNS/SYMPTOMS OF HAVING A HEART ATTACK IMMEDIATELY CALL 911.

Another factor of heart disease for women may be linked to having a hysterectomy. This is something I just learned yesterday. I was at my cardiac clearance appointment for my surgery and my cardiologist shared this information with me. When a hysterectomy is completed the changes in estrogen levels can increase the risks of cardiovascular disease. This is why it's so important for women who have had a hysterectomy to step up and and be even more vigilant with their cardiovascular health. 

Since I will be having my surgery in a few weeks, I will be taking a leave of absence  so I can recover. It has been a rough road getting to the point of needing a hysterectomy and living with chronic kidney disease. I'm not sure how many kidney doctor's talk to their female patients about this issue. I know my kidney doctor didn't talk to me about this until it became an issue for me. Because our kidneys don't make the hormones needed to maintain healthy hemoglobin and hematocrit levels, anemia becomes a huge issue for many female kidney patients. When you add terrible monthly periods into the mix the situation only gets worse. This is one of reasons why I needed to have so many, many, many blood transfusions. After 14 years of living this way it not only wore me down physically and emotionally but also has lead to some heart issues. Although I know there are some risks for increased cardiovascular disease, I think in this situation the pros's far out weight the con's.

I really appreciate all those who have followed and viewed the blog over the past  9 months and I look forward to coming back and continuing this journey with you. As always I look forward to your questions, comments, or concerns. 

Kidney Warriors keep strong and keep the faith! 

~Kidney Blogger

Love Your Heart

Happy Valentines Day, Kidney Warriors! February is American Heart Month!  Heart  disease, stroke, and high blood pressure are the #1 cause of death in the United States. High blood pressure is also one of the leading causes of chronic kidney disease. This is why it's so important as kidney patients we keep our hearts healthy and our blood pressure under control.  Today I want to share some "heart healthy" tips.

1. Know your heart health numbers ~ Establish with your doctor your baseline levels for your cholesterol, both good and bad, blood pressure, weight, BMI . Keep a yearly appointment to follow these numbers to make certain your on track.
2. De~Stress your heart ~ Stress causes increased high blood pressure, increased heart rate, and increases the stress hormone cortisol. Learning to "unplug" from life is one good way to reduce stress. Putting away the electronic devices for at least one hour a day has been proven to reduce stress
3. Get a heart healthy support system ~ Find an exercise buddy. Having a good support group of family and friends both lowers blood pressure and lowers the risks of heart disease.
4. STOP SMOKING ~ Smoking is one of major causes of heart disease.
5. A little alcohol goes along way ~ For women drinking one glass of alcohol a day and for men drinking two glasses of alcohol can help reduce the risk of heart disease.
6. Strengthening your heart with weight training ~  Reducing your  percentage of body fat, keeping your weight down, increasing your muscle mass, and increasing your aerobic endurance are just some of the benefits of strength training. It also increase your good cholesterol levels.
7. Reduce your salt intake ~ Reducing your salt intake lowers blood pressure, be certain to read food labels for added sodium especially in prepared food.
8. Eat a healthy diet ~ Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables at least five servings per day. A diet low in saturated fats, trans fat, cholesterol, and high in fiber.



As you can see many of tips for a healthy heart are also tips for keeping healthy kidneys. Many CKD patients are at risk of heart disease. Heart disease is any cardiovascular disease or CVD that affects the heart and/or blood vessels in the heart. Some complications that often found in patients with CKD can lead to CVD including: anemia, high blood pressure, high calcium and high phosphorus levels, and diabetes. Treating these conditions can lead to an overall healthier life and help you feel better.





On a very personal note I would like to THANK everyone who has given blood. I have needed many, many blood transfusions over the years and without blood donors I don't know where I would be. Please join me during the month of February to raise awareness for heart disease!

Thank you for joining me once again and help me spread the word throughout the month February for American Heart Month. As always I look forward to your questions, comments, or concerns.

Keep on fighting, you Kidney Warriors!

~ Kidney Blogger

What would you want to know?

Happy Wednesday and welcome back Kidney Warriors! The other day one of my online support groups posed an interesting question "What advice would you give to someone who was just diagnosed with kidney disease?"  The first thing I would tell them, after 15 years of living with kidney disease, is educate yourself about the disease . The more you know the more power you have over it. That's the first thing I did when I received my diagnoses. I knew absolutely nothing about kidney disease and really the only thing I knew about kidneys was that they cleaned your blood. Boy did I learn about how important the kidneys are to your overall health. Those two little bean shaped organs do some amazing things for the body. What I took away the most about learning about kidneys is they are 24/7 365 workings machines.

The second bit of advice I would share is, that your not alone in this battle. With the introduction of social media like Facebook and Twitter there are so many different support groups to provide education, support, and a place where others can relate to your experiences. I'm part of two different online support groups and both have provided me with support and comfort when no one else could relate to what I was going through. There are also offline support groups like the "Kidney Club" offered by The Northeast Kidney Foundation. If you live in New York please visit www.healthykidneys.org to find a local "Kidney Club" and if your area doesn't have one then contact Northeast Kidney to see if one can be setup in your area.

The next piece of advice I would share is, you can live a good life with kidney disease. And if  and when you advance to dialysis it's still a doable life. Yeah dialysis sucks but it will save your life. Having a good attitude towards dialysis is vital to the success of your treatments. As soon you learn that you need to start dialysis that is when you should start educating yourself about the different methods of dialysis. Please see blog posts "Kidneys and Dialysis 101, Dialysis 102, Dialysis 103, Dialysis 104 and Dialysis Wrap Up" to learn more about different dialysis methods.



The fourth piece of advice I would share is, that it's key to embrace a renal diet. Whatever stage of kidney disease you're in you should educate yourself on what's best during that stage. Each stage has different requirements and it's important to know what each is. Protein, sodium, phosphorus, and potassium are just a few things in your diet that you'll need learn how they affect your failing kidneys and the impact they have on your blood levels. This was one of the biggest challenges for me but now with a proper diet I have excellent blood work and feel so much better.

The last piece of advice I would share is, remember you are the captain of your own health care ship. If you don't like the doctor you are working with then find a new one. I have "thrown more doctors over board" than I can count. If you have questions, ask. If something feels wrong it probably is. Learn to listen to your body. You the best person to say when things are going wrong so pay attention to the signs. 

What would you want to about Kidney disease? Please feel free to leave a comment and ask! I would love to hear your questions weather you have just been diagnosed or you have lived with kidney disease for a long time. Thanks for joining me today! 

Keep on fighting, you Kidney Warriors! 

~Kidney Blogger 

Kidney Tips #1

Happy Wednesday Kidney Warriors! Today I would like to talk about some healthy kidney tips. 

1. Stay active and keep fit ~ keeping fit helps to reduce blood pressure which is one of leading causes of Chronic Kidney Disease. Doing at least 30 minutes of exercise three times a week is important to keeping fit.

2. Keep your blood sugar under control ~ Over half the patients who have diabetes develop kidney damage. Therefore it's vital that people with diabetes have regular tests to check kidney function. Diabetes is a leading cause of Chronic Kidney Disease. 

3. Monitor your blood pressure ~ Tracking your blood pressure and bringing the results to your doctor is just one way of determining if your blood pressure medications are working. Keeping your blood pressure to 120/70 is critical to maintaining healthy kidneys. High blood pressure is also a leading cause of Chronic Kidney Disease. 

4. Eat healthy ~ Reduce your salt intake, keeping it to about 5-6 grams a day is recommended. Avoiding processed food, not eating out often, and not adding salt to meals are all ways to reduce the sodium in your diet.  Maintaining a healthy diet helps prevent heart disease, diabetes, and other conditions associated with Chronic Kidney Disease. 

5. Maintain a healthy fluid intake ~ Drinking at least 2 liters of fluid per day helps the kidneys clear excess sodium, urea, and toxins from the body. This helps reduce the risks of Chronic Kidney Disease.

6. DO NOT SMOKE ~ Smoking increases the risk of Kidney Disease and Cancer by 50%. It also slows the blood flow to the kidneys and this lessons their ability to function correctly. 

7  Regular kidney checks ~ Its important to have your kidney function checked regularly especially if you have a family history of kidney healthy issues, have high blood pressure, diabetes, or obesity.

I would also like to share some tips about living life on dialysis, some things that many doctors don't  tell with us about. 

1. Lactose Intolerance ~ This means the body cannot easily digest lactose which is the natural sugar in milk and other dairy products. Symptoms include gas, belly pain and bloating. This becomes common in dialysis patient because many patients avoid dairy products due to its high phosphorus content. Over time the body has more and more trouble digesting dairy and the patient becomes lactose intolerant. This is something I have dealt this but it took me awhile to figure out. That's why i wanted to share this tip with you. 

2. Itchy skin ~  This is very common among dialysis patients and can drive you insane if you're dealing with it. Some tips I have used to deal with it are: find a healing lotion and use it every day twice a day. Take shorter, cooler showers and don't wear tight fitting, irritating clothing. It usually gets worse during the winter so lower the heat and use a humidifier to put moister in the air. 

3. Anemia and fatigue ~ Chronic anemia and fatigue is the biggest challenge I have faced living with  dialysis. The most common symptoms include: looking pale, shortness of breath, trouble sleeping, and dizziness. The fatigue can be debilitating and it can take you by surprise. The best tips for living with chronic anemia is the take all doses of the ESA medications prescribed by your doctor, have regular blood work done to monitor your hematocrit and hemoglobin levels For more information about chronic anemia and fatigue see blog post "Anemia and Fatigue in CKD.".  

I hope you find these tips useful and they help you lead a healthier life with your kidneys .And I also hope these tips also makes your life easier living with dialysis. Thanks for joining me for Kidney Tips #1. I look forward to your comments, questions, or concerns. 

Keep on fighting, you Kidney Warriors! 

~Kidney Blogger

All Things Kidney #7

Happy Friday Kidney Warriors! I wanted to share this important video about Organ Donation. I hope you will keep it going by sharing it. I'm already getting excited for March as most of you know it's National Kidney Month. A month to promote education and awareness. An entire month dedicated to spreading the word about the need for organ donors, providing education about kidney health, and holding kidney screenings. And the NortheastKidney Foundation is getting ready for the NYS Advocacy Day at the New York State Capital. This event allows patients, family members, advocates, and elected officials to come together to talk about kidney related issues and push the need for organ donation. This year it will be March 18th and if you are interested in participating and are in the Upstate New York area please contact Northeast Kidney at info@healthykidneys.org to get involved. 

During March we also celebrate World Kidney Day, March 13, 2014. This is a day about learning about your kidneys , learning about different types of kidney diseases, and learning how to care for your kidneys. Raising awareness about how important the kidneys are to overall health is one of the objectives of  this years World Kidney Day. One of the other objectives of this years World Kidney Day is to focus on Chronic Kidney Disease, its risk factors and the preventative steps like kidney screenings for the most at risk groups. The leading causes of Chronic Kidney Disease are High Blood Pressure and Diabetes. If caught in the early stages Chronic Kidney Disease can be treated which may reduce the chances of low term issues of chronic renal and cardiovascular issues. Of course raising awareness about Organ Donation is always one of objectives of World Kidney Day. 

Although I have waited six years for a kidney, I still have hope that one day I will get my call. Today there are over 10,000 waiting for a kidney, along with me, in New York State  that's why the NeFK NYS Advocacy day is so important. Here in New York our state legislators passed "Lauren's Law" which requires every person who applies or renews their drivers licence is required to fill out the organ donation section of the application. This law even applies to non~driver I.D. cards. This law is designed to increase the number of registered donors. Who Know's what legislation we can help encourage at the next Advocacy Day! This is the day for all patients to have a voice. This is the day to get involved and help make a difference. 

Thanks for joining me today for another All Things Kidney. I hope you're all getting ready for March and National Kidney Month. And will consider joining the Northeast Kidney Foundation for their NYS Advocacy Day on March 18, 14. I look forwrd to hearing your comments, questions or concerns. 

Keep on fighting, all you Kidney Warriors! 

~ Kidney Bloger