Kidney Transplantation

A Gift of Life Through Paired Kidney Exchange

February 15, 2026

By Orlando A. Torres, AAKP AmbassadorReceiving a kidney transplant on December 4, 2020, is one of life’s greatest blessings. My journey to transplantation was extraordinary — a story of faith, science, and the power of human kindness.

April 24, 2024

Meet AAKP Ambassadors Christina and Michael Gilchrist, who are known throughout the kidney community as "Blind Chick Living" and "The Caretaker,” and their always close by service dog, Moose.

April 3, 2024

By Deborah Pelaez, aakpRENALIFE Independent WriterImagine this. There exists a girl who possesses an appearance that deceives the eye, for she stands at a mere five feet one inch tall. Yet, do not be misled by her stature, for within her lies a smile of such magnitude that it illuminates an entire room!

February 1, 2022

By Deborah Pelaez, aakpRENALIFE Independent WriterDuane and Lisa Hawk are a fun-loving, energetic married couple from Palmerton, Pennsylvania, who were both born blind. Married now for 38 years, they met at piano tuning school in their early 20s.

November 2, 2021

In 1988, at the age of 33, Orlando Torres became proactive about his kidney health because of his father’s diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD). He started to see a nephrologist and get lab work to monitor his kidney health annually.

Donate Life Month: Kent Bressler

April is National Donate Life month and marks my 33rd kidney anniversary! Retiring two years ago, after a 40-year career in nursing and health management, has been very restorative and, more recently, “sheltering in” has allowed ample time to reflect on my many blessings.

April 17, 2020

Labor Secretary Acosta Earns Patient Praise For Organ Donor Job Protections

February 11, 2019

For Immediate Release August 31, 2018–Washington, D.C.: The American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) today thanked U.S.

February 8, 2019

By AAKP Ambassador, Kelly Cline Pediatric Kidney Pals E-Newsletter, Dec. 2018 As I walked down the stairs of my daughter’s new home, i.e. her residence hall at Virginia Commonwealth University, the reality that it was the end of what I had known for 18 years began to hit me.

AAKP Innovator Series: Third Kidney, Inc. CEO Ray Keller, DO

July 31, 2018

Third Kidney Inc. is focused on utilizing the human body’s skin sweat glands for purposeful, measurable, replicable renal function. The low-risk, sauna-based procedure Third Kidney has developed is built upon a large body of prior medical work, as well as numerous holistic cross-cultural health practices from around the world.

Kidneys and Food. How Are the Two Related?

July 31, 2018

Written By: Nancy K. Uhland, DNP, FNP-C Kidneys are an important organ and perform several functions in order to keep our bodies healthy. Food is an important substance we consume in order to provide our bodies with the fuel and energy it needs to maintain life. But, just how are our food choices related to the well-being of our kidneys?

Kidney Transplantation

A Gift of Life Through Paired Kidney Exchange

Christina and Michael Gilchrist Share Their Story for National High Potassium Day

A Blessing to Others, AAKP Ambassador Precious McCowan Shares Her Story with Kidney Disease

Patient Profile: Duane and Lisa Hawk

Patient Profile: Orlando Torres, AAKP Global Ambassador

Donate Life Month: Kent Bressler

Labor Secretary Acosta Earns Patient Praise For Organ Donor Job Protections

Is This Where I Leave You?

AAKP Innovator Series: Third Kidney, Inc. CEO Ray Keller, DO

Kidneys and Food. How Are the Two Related?