Kris and Joanna first shared their living kidney donation and transplant story with us during our webinar in April 2025, on the topic of organ donation and transplant advocacy in Canada. Joanna is a PKD patient, and Kris is her living kidney donor. Kris is also the provincial director of...
"I was officially placed on the transplant list in January 2024. Things deteriorated quickly. I kept losing weight because I could barely eat; there was no space inside for food. I survived on Boost, Ensure, creamy foods (basically baby food), while dealing with severe acid reflux, vomiting, a metallic taste...
I was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease (PKD) in 1992 at the age of 18. At the time, my doctor reassured me that my kidneys "just looked funny" and that I had nothing to worry about. Hearing the term kidney disease was shocking, but the doctor’s reaction kept me from...
Meet Phouvieng Sackda, a true inspiration in the PKD community. From navigating dialysis to celebrating the gift of a kidney transplant, Phouv shares his journey with authenticity and hope. He also offers heartfelt advice to his daughters about embracing life while managing their PKD diagnosis.
For those living with polycystic kidney disease (PKD), organ donation is more than an act of generosity - it’s a life-changing miracle. This month, we are honouring some of the most powerful Voices of PKD stories - stories of incredible living kidney donors who made the ultimate gift so that...
"Hello, my name is Keith. I am 75 years old, and I am Indigenous, from the Tyendinaga Indian Reserve in Deseronto, Ontario. I have lived a simple life. I first found out I had polycystic kidney disease (PKD) back in 1994."
"I was less than a month away from being on dialysis for 8 Years. The same number of years my mom was before she passed away in 2006. She was only 45, I am now 43."
"Hello, my name is Susan. My journey with PKD began in my 20’s, when I was told I had a few cysts on my kidneys. I was told that having a few cysts was not unusual, and not to be concerned."
My name is Omar, and I was diagnosed with PKD almost two years ago. I'm currently 22 years old, and I knew nothing about PKD before I was diagnosed. For three or four years prior to my diagnosis, I was experiencing severe headaches, and after I changed my family doctor, I...
"My name is Kim Holowatiuk, and I was diagnosed with PKD when I was 17 years old. At the time, I had two cysts on one kidney, one cyst on the other, and one liver cyst. (Those were the good ol’ days.) 😉"