August 31, 2020
August 2020 PKD e-News
August 2020 PKD e-News
August 2020
Greetings!
Welcome to the PKD Foundation of Canada's August e-News! We have provided information important to helping you take action in your journey with PKD.
AWARENESS
September 4th is National Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Day!
Once again, Health Canada is recognizing September 4th as National Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Awareness Day - a special day devoted to raising awareness of this life-threatening, genetic disease.Though PKD affects thousands in Canada and millions worldwide, many people have never heard of it. Together, we can change this! #PKDAwarenessDay is our day to raise awareness about this disease and the devastating impact it has on generation after generation.
There's not just one single way to raise awareness. You can spread the word in whatever way or format that works for you. Share your story with someone, wear your #endPKD t-shirt, change your Facebook profile picture, tweet your favorite celebrity or local politician, post a video... it's all up to you! For additional ideas on how you can support and for social media images to download, visit our PKD Awareness Day blog post here!
Stay tuned for our upcoming PKD Awareness Day posts on social media for ways to get involved and raise your voice with us on September 4th!
Nova Scotia Woman Says Sister in P.E.I. Saved Her Life with Kidney Transplant
On July 23rd, Heather Blouin donated the gift of life, a kidney, to her sister Cheryl Castellani in Halifax. "Castellani said she and her sister were always close, but a different kind of bond has now been created.""I get to thank my donor and show my donor how much this is appreciated," an emotional Castellani told The Guardian in a phone interview. “What I do with my life will always be in the best interest of what she did for me. It’s overwhelming when I stop to think about it. When I sit and think about it, I really do lose it.’’
Read more about Heather and Cheryl's story here!
SUPPORT
Join us for the 2020 VIRTUAL Walk to END PKD!
Join us for the 2020 Virtual Walk to END PKD, the PKD Foundation of Canada's signature fundraising campaign!
After careful thought and consideration related to COVID-19, the PKD Foundation of Canada has made the decision this year to turn our signature fundraising event, the #WalkToENDPKD, into a virtual fundraising celebration - taking place on SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27th! As always, the health and safety of our PKD family comes first, and we feel this is the best approach to take at this time.
To keep things simple, the online registration and fundraising process will remain the same as previous years. The only major change is instead of a select few large public gatherings, you now have the opportunity to choose your own path locally and walk for a cure with your immediate family and friends. We have a unique opportunity in 2020 as a nation to walk together in spirit, united in the fight to #endPKD!
To learn more about this year's Walk to END PKD campaign, visit our blog post here.
To read our blog post in French, click here!
After careful thought and consideration related to COVID-19, the PKD Foundation of Canada has made the decision this year to turn our signature fundraising event, the #WalkToENDPKD, into a virtual fundraising celebration - taking place on SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27th! As always, the health and safety of our PKD family comes first, and we feel this is the best approach to take at this time.
To keep things simple, the online registration and fundraising process will remain the same as previous years. The only major change is instead of a select few large public gatherings, you now have the opportunity to choose your own path locally and walk for a cure with your immediate family and friends. We have a unique opportunity in 2020 as a nation to walk together in spirit, united in the fight to #endPKD!
To learn more about this year's Walk to END PKD campaign, visit our blog post here.
To read our blog post in French, click here!
Help People SEE ADPKD: Share Your Story Today!
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is one of the world’s most common, life-threatening genetic diseases. Your stories can help people paint a more powerful picture of PKD and the lives it affects.
Help give a voice to a widely unknown disease by sharing your story here.
You can read some of our Voices of PKD here!
Help give a voice to a widely unknown disease by sharing your story here.
You can read some of our Voices of PKD here!
We Want To Hear From You!
Your opinion matters to us and we'd like to know more about your journey with PKD to help serve you better! If you are living with PKD, or a care-giver, friend or family member of someone who has PKD, this survey is for you!You can complete our survey in English here
You can complete our survey in French here!
Learn
Managing Depression and Anxiety with Polycystic Kidney Disease
Thank you to those who joined us on August 27th for our webinar, 'Managing Depression and Anxiety with Polycystic Kidney Disease.'COVID-19 is a serious health concern and the impact on our lives continues to evolve on a daily basis. In these unprecedented times, we all need to be mindful of the effects these extra stressors have on our mental health.
The PKD Foundation of Canada was proud to present this complimentary webinar, 'Managing Depression and Anxiety with Polycystic Kidney Disease.' This webinar gave our community the opportunity to ask questions to Carla Williams, a Kidney Care Clinic and Transplant social worker.
This presentation focused on managing depression and anxiety while also living with a chronic health condition, such as polycystic kidney disease. Additional talking points included:
- Living with a chronic health condition and its affect on mental health
- How social workers can support those living with chronic illness who are experiencing depression and anxiety
- Mental health assessment and support resources that are available online
- Impacts of COVID-19 on mental health and wellness
Speaker: Carla Williams, BSW, RSW
In case you missed it, stay tuned for the webinar recording to be made available online at endpkd.ca!
In case you missed it, stay tuned for the webinar recording to be made available online at endpkd.ca!
Upcoming Webinar: COVID-19, Transplant and Children
The Transplant Research Foundation of BC and BC Transplant will be hosting their 2nd transplant webinar on Tuesday September 8th, 4:30- 5:30 pm PDT, 'COVID-19, Transplant and Children.'"With back-to-school just around the corner, the focus of this webinar is children, transplant and COVID-19. This webinar will cover questions about:
• What we know today about COVID-19 and children
• Considerations for children who have a transplant and for transplant recipients with children/siblings
• Answers to common questions on COVID-19 and transplant.
Please submit your questions to [email protected] in advance when you register."
Be sure to register here!
Please submit your questions to [email protected] in advance when you register."
Be sure to register here!
Understanding PKD Pain and Daily Life
"When it comes to living with PKD, maintaining a high quality of life while balancing PKD pain can be challenging. Having a well-balanced diet, staying physically active, and keeping up-to-date on the latest research and recommendations is key."To better understand how #PKD impacts patients on a daily basis, the PKD Foundation went straight to members of their community.
Click here to see what they had to say!
Attention BC Residents: Save the Date for BC Renal's Upcoming Webinar, 'Kidney Transplant and Finding a Living Donor!'
On October 1st, 3-5pm PST, BC Renal and BC Transplant will be holding one of their Transplant Education SessionsBC Renal periodically co-hosts province-wide transplant education sessions for BC adults considering receiving a kidney transplant and those considering becoming a living donor. The content of sessions for interested Kidney Care Clinic patients, families, friends and potential living donors includes:
- Transplant as a Treatment Option
- Finding a Living Donor
- Becoming a Kidney Donor
Presenters typically include:
- a registered nurse with the Kidney Recipient Pre-Transplant Program
- a transplant recipient who received a kidney from a living kidney donor
- a registered nurse with the Living Kidney Donor Program
- a transplant social worker
-
a living kidney donor
To register click here!
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