February 2018 PKD e-News
Welcome to the PKD Foundation of Canada's February e-News! Here you will find information important to helping you take action in your journey with PKD.
AWARENESS
March is National Kidney Month!
Kidney Month is recognized in March across Canada and the United States. We spend this time raising awareness of the importance of our kidneys to our overall health, and to reduce the frequency and impact kidney disease and its associated health problems have on an international level. We encourage you all to get out there and share your PKD journey with as many people as possible!
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to share stories and facts throughout the month that will help spread awareness of PKD and the importance of keepin
g our kidneys healthy!
Save the Date: March 8 is World Kidney Day
As part of National Kidney Month in March, World Kidney Day is a global awareness campaign aimed at raising awareness of the importance of our kidneys. This year's theme focuses on women's health, which you can read more about here.
Grand Opening of the Ottawa Hospital Eastern Ontario Cystic Renal Disease Centre of Excellence!
On February 12, Executive Director Jeff Robertson and Ottawa Chapter & Walk Coordinator Gina Hedges and had the great honour of participating in the grand opening of the Ottawa Hospital Eastern Ontario Cystic Renal Disease Centre of Excellence!
This centre will deliver essential specialized care for PKD patients in Ottawa and its surrounding region and will be an important fixture for continuing research and education on PKD!
Dr. Pierre Brown, Dr. Mohan Biyani, and Dr. Ayub Akbari will serve as the three experts who will provide care for PKD patients at the clinic.
LEARN
Upcoming Toronto Chapter Meeting: New Guidelines for Optimal Management of ADPKD in Adults
When:Where:
North York Civic Centre
Community Room #4
5100 Yonge St
North York, ON M2N 5V7
Speaker: Dr. Daniel Sapir, MD.
- The role of genetic testing
- The role of renal imaging
- Predicting the risk of disease progression
- Pharmacological treatment options for ADPKD
- Specific recommendations for the treatment of ADPKD with tolvaptan
Upcoming Calgary Chapter Meeting: Eating Healthy with PKD
When:Tuesday, March 20, 2018 from 6:30PM - 8:30PM
Where:
Nicholls Family Library
1413 33 St SW
Calgary, AB T3C 1P2
Speaker: Sylvia Hui - Renal Dietitian, Alberta Health Services
Meeting Details: Join us as Sylvia Hui walks us through how to eat healthy with PKD, focusing on a kidney-friendly diet and lifestyle. You will have the opportunity to learn more and ask your questions about:- The importance of a kidney-friendly diet
- Which foods are good / bad
- Tips to finding the right foods to eat
In the News: Game-Changing Kidney Transplant Technique Developed at Toronto General Hospital
For the first time in North America, a donated kidney has been successfully transplanted into a patient using a new system Dr. Markus Selzner, a transplant surgeon at the University Health Network's Toronto General Hospital, helped pioneer. It’s the result of four years of work by the surgeon and a team of scientists from the University Health Network, Canadian Blood Services and SickKids Hospital.
The team has developed a machine and kidney support system that keeps the organ healthy by mimicking conditions inside the human body.
The procedure works by storing a kidney in a special mixture of nutrients at body temperature, which helps restore the kidney before it is transplanted. Doctors can also monitor the organ prior to transplant.
PKD Health Notes: Finding Balance with Proper Portions
As a kidney patient, your diet is an important factor in your everyday life. Coming into the new year, don’t lean on fad diets to get healthy—think in terms of portions instead! Correctly portioning the foods and beverages you eat and drink is one of the most effective ways to not only trim excess calories from your diet without dieting, but to also stay true to your kidney diet. Monitoring and evaluating portion sizes can even help you work your favorite foods into your kidney diet plan. It’s all about finding a balance.
PKD-Friendly Recipes: Turkey Vegetable Soup
With winter weather persisting, it might be cold outside, but you don’t have to be! If you’re a fan of keeping it cozy with soups and stews, then you have to check out this hearty recipe for turkey vegetable soup.
SUPPORT
Upcoming Ottawa Chapter Trivia Fundraiser & Social!
When:Event Details: Are you someone who likes to show off your knowledge or random topics to friends? Or just likes to gather and have a laugh? Then come join the Ottawa Chapter for a family-friendly afternoon of trivia to raise funds for critical Canadian research of PKD!
Bring your smartphone or tablet to play along through the Kahoot! app. To download the app ahead of the event, visit Google Play or the Apple App Store.
Facebook.
BLOG: PKD Will Not Beat Me - Even the Sun Needs Downtime
In Valen's blog post, she takes the time to reflect how important it is to find balance between the responsibilities of your condition and of caring for your self:
"“Wow—so much to do—don’t get bogged down with the burden of disease. Try to keep your composure and quality of life.” This was the start of a message I recently received from my nephrologist. This great advice, while sometimes easier said than done, really spoke to me since I have felt quite consumed by my recent diagnosis of PSC – primary sclerosing cholangitis." Keep reading.
You can find this post, and others written by Valen, here.