Voices of PKD: Judith Belair-Kyle, Montreal QC
"My name is Judith, I am 35 years old, I live in Quebec and I have polycystic kidney disease (PKD). I am of Quebec and American origin."
Voices of PKD: Wilma Haas, Edmonton AB
"I was diagnosed with PKD in 1989 when pregnant with my first child (the disease was diagnosed on my first pre-natal ultrasound). My only prior symptom was slightly elevated blood pressure. I had never heard of the disease, and on learning that it is a hereditary disease, I researched its’...
Voices of PKD: Lisa Werner, London ON
My name is Lisa Werner. My twin sister and I were born with polycystic kidney and liver disease (PKD1), a genetic disorder, but I wasn’t diagnosed until the age of 29. I received a kidney and liver transplant on November 16, 2020. The liver team removed my 35 pound liver,...
Jennifer Morgan, Halifax NS
"On December 29th 2020, I went for what I thought was just a routine blood work check up. Our family had been on a waitlist to find a family doctor for a few years and we finally were matched. Our new doctor sent me for blood work while she waited...
Voices of PKD: Kristen Walsh, Lamaline NL
"Inspirational stories used to be just stories to me. We've all seen and heard them - you listen to a story about someone who has lost a limb, had a incurable diagnosis, lost their husband or wife, or had some form of tragedy and how they readjusted to their life."...
Voices of PKD: Clayton Rafuse, AB
My name is Clayton and I am a 23 year-old Paramedic living In Alberta. March of 2020 I lost my father, Pete Rafuse, to PKD. PKD is an illness my father lived with for the majority of his life without issue. His doctor’s care plan was to monitor and see...
Voices of PKD: Lisa Buchanan, Shelburne NS
I live in southern Nova Scotia and have known that I have PKD since I was 18 years old. I am 55 now and am in end stage renal failure with my function being at 10%.
Voices of PKD: Tetyana Walker, Winnipeg MB
My name is Tetyana and I wanted to share my PKD story with you. I found out I had PKD at 22 at an emergency department here in Winnipeg MB. It was discovered by mistake. I had absolutely no knowledge what PKD was or how serious it is. I didn’t...
Voices of PKD: Marie Lerminiaux, Moose Jaw SK
My name is Marie Lerminiaux. My journey with PKD began when I was young, watching my mother and aunt’s journeys and not truly understanding. Then, my sister’s kidneys failed when I was in my late 30’s.
Voices of PKD: Shealeen Boyce, St-Eustache QC
I was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease (PKD) in 1996 at the age of 35. There is no history of PKD on either side of my family, so I have what is called a mutation. Both my children have tested negative for PKD, so that is a huge relief as the disease...