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.
February 14th is National Donor Day. It’s also St. Valentine’s Day. Most everyone associates the heart with Valentine’s Day – because the heart is the organ that symbolizes love. In reality, though, every organ, every tissue, every single part of our miraculous bodies symbolizes the greatest of all gifts: LIFE!
Potassium is a very important mineral. It plays a key role in controlling the function of nerves and muscles, particularly the heart. Potassium is found in many foods, especially many fruits and vegetables. It has been shown to lower blood pressure and may also have benefits such as reducing the risk of strokes.
For many seniors, thinking about the future can be extremely stressful. There are many financial considerations to think about, from how you’ll pay for potential medical bills to covering the costs of long-term care. Not only that, you might need to start thinking about end-of-life preparations, especially if you have a large estate…
It was 2014, I had just completed my first year of dialysis. I was in my chair at the Fresenius Medical Care Clinic in Crown Point, Indiana, when my doctor, Dr. Vavilala (Dr. V) approached me. He mentioned to me that the ESRD Network 10 was holding a contest, and he felt that if I applied and wrote an essay, I’d win.
Tampa, FL – The American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP), America’s oldest and largest independent, patient-led kidney advocacy organization, has announced recipients of its 2020 Medal of Excellence. The award is one of the Association’s highest honors for kidney healthcare professionals and designed to elevate local, national and international figures who have been at the forefront of advancements in kidney care and patient empowerment.
Rilynn was diagnosed with Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease (ARPKD) in utero when I was 20 weeks pregnant, deemed un-survivable. At this point I’ve lost count at the number of times we’ve been told she wouldn’t survive. From a 95-day Neonatal Intensive Care Unit stay to beating stage IV liver cancer just last month, you could say she’s a living breathing miracle.
Anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough red blood cells. Red bloods cells are important because they carry the oxygen needed by the cells and tissues in the body to function properly and survive. With anemia, the major organs of the body such as the heart, kidneys, lungs and brain may lack essential oxygen to carry out normal functioning and if severe enough…
