Our Blog

By Diana Clynes, Executive Director Washington, D.C. – The American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) celebrated its 50 Year Anniversary as the oldest and largest fully independent kidney patient organization in the USA with their highest attended National Patient Meeting and awards program in over ten years. The meeting, entitled Driving Innovation & Changing the Status Quo, was held in Washington D.C., September 6-8, 2019.

Have you been diagnosed with kidney disease? If so, you might be eligible for Social Security disability benefits. The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers monthly financial aid for people who are unable to work. Kidney disease does not automatically qualify for benefits, but thousands of people who are out of work for a year or more due to kidney disease may be eligible for assistance. Medically Qualifying with Kidney Disease The SSA maintains its own guide of qualification criteria, known colloquially as the Blue Book.

By Deborah Pelaez, AAKP Marketing and Communications Manager Gabriella Nelson is a healthy 3-year-old, happy and full of life. If you met her, you would never know by looking at her all that she has been through. You would never guess this beautiful young girl has a kidney transplant! Gabriella was diagnosed with Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) at 17 months old. On December 1, 2017, when Gabriella was 16 months old, her mother, Angela Clayton, took Gabriella to the doctor because she was concerned that she may have allergies.

By Edward V. Hickey III, AAKP Board of Director, Secretary and Chair of Veterans Health Initiative, and Paul T. Conway, AAKP Board of Director, Chair, Policy & Global Affairs It is not every day that you, as a patient advocate, are asked to make and engage in a 10 year commitment – but today is the day!

By Kent Bressler, AAKP Board of Director AAKP Policy Focus: Top Legislative Issues Impacting Your Life By Kent Bressler, AAKP Board of Director On July 10, President Trump signed an executive order (https://www. whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/ executive-order-advancing-americankidney-health/) that is seen as the first meaningful progress in elevating the national profile of kidney disease and shining a spotlight on the millions of Americans affected by this chronic condition.  The Executive Order has four goals: 1) Prevention and early detection of kidney disease, 2)

By Jim Myers, AAKP Board of Director and Ambassador In honor of school days, we are writing today about 5-year-old Henry Whitacre and his mom, Emily. Henry received a kidney transplant at Riley's Children's Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana on July 18th, 2018. We wanted to check in and see how Henry is doing with his first school experiences. Hopefully, we can give first time back-to-school kidney parents some helpful ideas as the school year starts. Read the interview below. We asked: As a parent of a pediatric kidney kid, how are you preparing for the start of school?

By Tish Ganey, 500 RYT (registered yoga teacher) and teacher of Advanced Therapeutic Yoga “If you can breathe, you can do yoga!” That is the slogan of this year’s Global Yoga Therapy Day celebrated on August 14. It highlights the fact that yoga is something you can practice anywhere, anytime. You don’t need special equipment, or yoga outfits, or have the ability to sit cross-legged on the floor. If you can breath, you CAN do yoga! It is as simple as that. Therapeutic yoga is a complementary and alternative therapy that supports patients and caregivers in their everyday lives.

By Michelle McIlnay, MS, RDN, LD Summer is here; the birds are chirping, the flowers are blooming, and the temperature is rising. My family and I love living the “good life” in the Texas Hill Country. We stay busy in the summer with hiking, grilling out with friends and tubing down the river. As the thermometer climbs, we often find ourselves reaching for a cold drink to cool off our bodies, when in fact there are better ways to cool off. Staying cool while limiting your fluids is especially difficult when you are living with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).

By Tricia Haydon It is challenging enough having chronic kidney disease (CKD), however include the all-too common co-morbidities that coincide with kidney disease and there is a lot to manage! One of the common health problems that go along with kidney disease is heart disease. This can come in various forms, however sometimes the heart disease needs specific treatments either through different types of imaging or potentially more invasive procedures. It is important for people with kidney and heart disease to be mindful of how any treatment may affect their kidney function.

By: Doris Harrison, RN CKD/Transplant Specialist Approximately 14 years ago, I began my career in the medical field working within a kidney transplant clinic as a medical assistant. At first, I was not sure if this was where I would stay, I was hoping to work in the hospital with newborn babies, but God had another plan for me. I love working in the medical field and helping patients is very rewarding. At the kidney transplant center, I was able to see firsthand how organ donation changed their lives and how grateful and loving these patients are for another chance at life.