Our Blog

By Stephen Z. Fadem, MD, FASN, AAKP Medical Advisory Board Chair, and Michelle (Misha) L. Nguyen, Senior Fitness Specialist February was rodeo season in my hometown of Houston, Texas. Here is where young cowboys compete to stay on a 2,000-pound snorting, ornery, bucking, kicking, and twisting bull for at least eight seconds.

David’s battle with kidney disease began in high school in Highland Park, New Jersey. He dreamed about following in his older brother’s footsteps of playing football in high school and college. During his routine sports physical, his doctor said there was protein in his urine.

In 1992, in her mid-twenties, Tiffany Fisher was diagnosed with hypertension (high blood pressure) after having her second child. During a routine check-up, her healthcare team noticed her high blood pressure and sent her to her primary doctor. This is when she was formally diagnosed with hypertension.

National Itch Day is June 3 - Let’s “Stop the Itch”!Many dialysis patients experience severe itching. This condition is called Chronic Kidney Disease Associated Pruritis (CKD-aP).AAKP Ambassador Jonathan Traylor has a family history of diabetes and hypertension (high blood pressure).

Rozelle Callangan, AAKP Global Ambassador By Deborah Pelaez, aakpRENALIFE Independent Writer Rozelle was born with underdeveloped, small kidneys. As a baby, Rozelle suffered from numerous urinary tract infections and was diagnosed with kidney disease.

Nate grew up watching his father live with chronic kidney disease (CKD). In 2014, when Nate’s kidneys failed at age 22, he had already learned a lot about the living with kidney disease and the negative effects of not following a kidney-friendly diet from his dad.

Chef Oliver Hale, better known as “Chef O,” is a retired celebrity chef, having professionally cooked for over 48 years. Throughout his career, he has made 315 cooking shows and nine video awards. For about 21 years, he has also been hosted educational cooking demonstrations for kidney patients.

Home Dialysis, COVID, and Beyond - A Patient Profile: AAKP Ambassador Mihi Wickramasinghe AAKP Ambassador Mihi Wickramasinghe Mihi is 21 years old and living with Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD). She is on peritoneal dialysis (PD), a home dialysis therapy, and currently looking for a living donor.

Home Dialysis, COVID, and Beyond - A Patient Profile: AAKP Ambassador Melissa Bensouda AAKP Ambassador Melissa Bensouda At the age of 24, Melissa was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD) after giving birth to her second daughter.

The American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) is honored to recognize the recipients of its 2022 Medal of Excellence Award.