August 2024 Update
I can’t believe it’s August! It feels like this summer (and year) is flying by!
I have several updates for you since my last blog post, so I’ll waste no time and get right to them! But before I do, I want to once again express my gratitude for you being here and reading this! Any time someone reads this blog or any other page on my website, it is increasing awareness of Polycystic Kidney Disease and organ donation. Knowing that I am helping to build this awareness makes it a little easier to share something that is deeply personal. So thank you again for being here and please share my story! Not everyone can be a living donor, but anyone could be the one who makes the connection that saves my life.
I’VE BEEN FEELING UNWELL
As I mentioned in my July post, my declining kidney function had left me feeling quite unwell, with several symptoms including severe fatigue, nausea and loss of appetite. Doing simple things like going up stairs, unloading the dishwasher or blow drying my hair had become draining.
After seeing my doctor in late July, I have been feeling a bit better. He has tweaked some of my medication and that has helped with the nausea and loss of appetite that I was feeling over the past couple of months. I also received an iron infusion, which has helped to increase my energy level a little bit. While I am still not where I was even a year ago, I am definitely feeling better than I have been the past couple of months, so I am hopeful I can maintain this energy level for a while!
SCREENING IN PREPARATION TO RECEIVE A KIDNEY DONATION HAS BEGUN
However, my kidney function is continuing to decline and was at 18% as of late June. As a result, I will now begin the process to be evaluated to see if I am eligible to receive a living donation. This means lots of tests to ensure that I am otherwise healthy to receive a new kidney and undergo the transplant surgery. This also means the next few months are going to be busy! While I am nervous about everything that I am facing, I am happy to no longer be ‘waiting’ for the inevitable.
WONDERING IF YOU CAN BE DONOR? FIND OUT NOW.
This also means that they are ready to begin initial screening for potential living donors. Please know that your exploration of the donor process is not shared with me unless you choose to do so and you are able to change your mind at any point in the process. For anyone who is interested in potentially donating, please click the button below for more information.
WALK TO END PKD - WE’VE GOT A TEAM!
A final bit of news is that I will be participating in the Walk to End PKD next month. My husband, sister & I will be doing the Guelph walk on September 8th and would love your support! You can join our team, walk with us and help to fundraise. Or, you could also donate to our team. The Walk to End PKD is an important fundraising event for the PKD Foundation of Canada and aims to unite the PKD community in the relentless pursuit of a cure for polycystic kidney disease.
Once again, thank you for being here and supporting me along this journey. I could never adequately express how much it means to me!
