Payal Shah was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD) at the age of 15 after her bloodwork revealed her kidneys had failed. She was rushed to the hospital to start dialysis. She was on hemodialysis for 6 months and peritoneal dialysis for another 6 months before receiving her kidney transplant from a living donor.
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Our Blog
AAKP strives for change by promoting and celebrating the importance of kidney health for patients across the country. This blog will allow you to connect with experts, researchers, staff and volunteers surrounding our ongoing advocacy for healthy kidneys.
National High Potassium Awareness Day: Patient Story, Leigh-Ann Williams
Leigh-Ann Williams is currently a home hemodialysis patient. She has been on dialysis for five years and has done both in-center and home dialysis.
Leigh-Ann was a young college student who was always on the go when she found out she had kidney failure that resulted from Lupus.
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Kent’s Kidney Stories with AAKP President Richard Knight
During this episode of Kent’s Kidney Stories, AAKP Board Member/Ambassador Kent Bressler speaks with AAKP’s President Richard Knight. Mr. Knight is a healthcare professional and a former hemodialysis patient. He received a kidney transplant approximately fourteen years ago. Read his full bio here. In this episode, Mr.
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FDA and CMS Decisions are Key to Increased Transplantation for Highly-HLA Sensitized Kidney Patients
By Lana Schmidt, MBA, former home hemodialysis patient, current transplant recipient, AAKP National Board of Director As an 18-year kidney patient warrior, I know firsthand what it is like to have too many antibodies and a very low chance, if ever, of receiving a kidney transplant.
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Organ Procurement Organizations
By Seema Verma, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Today, more than 100,000 Americans are on waiting lists to receive a lifesaving organ transplant. A new name is added to the national transplant waiting list every 10 minutes.
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American Presidential Transitions – AAKP’s Strategic and Ongoing Role
By Paul T. Conway AAKP Chair of Policy & Government Affairs Editor’s Note: Mr. Conway, a 40-year kidney patient and 23-year transplant recipient, has worked in support of five U.S. presidential transitions. He leads AAKP efforts related to the Trump/Biden Presidential Transition.
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Chronic kidney disease is a key risk factor for severe COVID-19: a call to action by the ERA-EDTA
ERA-EDTA Council and the ERACODA Working Group* Correspondence to: Alberto Ortiz, E-mail: AOrtiz@fjd.es*A list of members of the ERA-EDTA Council and the ERACODA Working Group can be found as Acknowledgements section.
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Kidney Patients Making National Impact Helping Patients During National Pandemic
World Kidney News/Urban Health Outreach Media hosted a special broadcast featuring the executive leadership of the American Association of Kidney Patients: Diana Clynes, Executive Director; Richard Knight, President; Edward V. Hickey, III, U.S.M.C., Vice President, Chair of AAKP Veterans Health Initiative; and Paul T.
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Innovator Series: Q&A with Dr. Ray Harris
You are very well known across the larger kidney community for leadership, medical expertise and respect for patient insights. For AAKP readers, can you tell us how patients have informed your view of medicine, and your role as a thought leader in kidney medicine and kidney innovation?
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Transplant Life Foundation
By Bill RyanSteven Baldridge, R.N. wrote in a recent online article, “In ancient times the kidneys were viewed as the seat of feelings, conscience, and yearnings and the source of morality and ethical activity. The kidneys were associated with the innermost parts of a person’s personality and well-being.
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