Welcome to the PKD Foundation of Canada's March e-News! We have provided information important to helping you take action in your journey with PKD.

To view the e-News in French click here!

LEARN

ATTN Calgary! We hope you’ll join us for our upcoming PKD Patient Forum with Dr. Louis Girard! Patients and their loved ones are invited to join this educational forum. Admission is FREE and all are welcome to attend! Learn more and RSVP here!

Share your ideas and perspectives at the Gardener's Grove Conference 2023! This four-day virtual event is your chance to plant, cultivate, and nurture support for new randomized controlled trials in hemodialysis.

Register Today!

Thank you to those who tuned in for our webinar, “Medical Cannabis in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease.” We were joined by Dr. Micheli Bevilacqua, a nephrologist, Dr. Dan Martinusen and Dr. Claudia Ho, pharmacists, and Paul Watson, a PKD patient. The webinar recording, as well as additional resources, are now available online HERE!
 

SUPPORT

ATTN Halifax! Get to know your Halifax Chapter at our meet and greet! Gather with fellow PKD patients and advocates to hear about the Halifax Chapter's goals, share your ideas about future meeting topics, and learn about volunteer opportunities. To learn more and RSVP, visit endpkd.ca/april2_2023!

PKD patient, advocate & wellness educator, Ciara Morin shares her PKD story to promote health & wellness for families afflicted by PKD in her new blog, 'Navigating Life with Chronic Illness.'

Read More!

Transplant Ambassadors are kidney transplant recipients or living kidney donors who welcome the opportunity to share their personal experiences with you, to help guide you through your kidney journey. Not only are we pleased to offer TAP programs to PKD patients nation-wide, but we are now looking for PKD patients to become Transplant Ambassadors. To learn more, visit endPKD.ca/tapambassadors. 

This year for your birthday, help change the lives of thousands of Canadians by asking your friends and family to donate to the PKD Foundation of Canada in lieu of gifts! This is a great way to give back to the PKD community on your special day. Create your own fundraising page today at endPKD.ca/DIY.

We hope you can join us for a virtual screening of the documentary “Perfect Strangers”, on 26 April 2023 from 6:30pm-8pm EST. “Perfect Strangers tells the story of two unique and engaging characters. One is Ellie, who embarks on an unpredictable journey of twists and turns, determined to give away one of her kidneys. 500 miles away, Kathy endures nightly dialysis and loses hope of receiving a transplant; until Ellie reads her profile on an online website. Both women face unexpected challenges as their parallel stories unfold over the course of four years.”

Following the screening of this documentary, we will be joined by the director, Jan Krawitz for a Q&A session. 

RSVP Today!

AWARENESS

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.

Join us for 31 Days of PKD Challenges! For the remaining days in March, we will continue taking on daily challenges to raise awareness of PKD. Follow along by visiting 31 Days of PKD Challenges!

Green Shirt Day was created to honour, remember, and recognize all the victims and families of the fatal Humboldt Broncos crash in 2018, and to continue Logan’s Boulet's legacy by inspiring Canadians to talk to their families and register as organ donors. Logan Boulet saved 6 lives with his decision to become an organ donor, just a couple weeks before devastatingly succumbing to his injuries.

To learn more about the #LoganBouletEffect and how you can get involved on Green Shirt Day, click here!

"As I begin down this path towards a kidney transplant, I do not walk with fear in my heart, but rather full of hope and possibility."

Read Christina's story and and share your own at endpkd.ca/voices_of_pkd!

The NOTDAW campaign acknowledges the thousands of patients in Canada who are in need of a transplant, and those who have died waiting. Canadians are reminded to register their intent to donate and to discuss their wishes with family and friends.

Visit organtissuedonation.ca to find out how to become an organ donor in your province.

Working for a cure, 

Your Friends at the PKD Foundation of Canada

Every gift - no matter the size - can make a difference in the fight against PKD. Please consider making a donation today.