Take a closer look at kidney disease
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This article was published 27/01/2020 (1224 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Dialysis and transplant may seem like foreign words to some but for those affected by kidney disease it’s a life line of hope. Marking a new age in kidney awareness, The Kidney Foundation is asking Manitobans to take notice of their kidney health, and to understand the serious life-changing impacts of kidney disease.
The Kidney Foundation has updated information on its newly rebranded website, www.kidney.ca, which reflects the ongoing commitment to be an innovative, dynamic force in improving the lives of one in nine Manitobans.
“Kidney disease is more common than you think. Over 134,000 adults and 8,600 children and teens in Manitoba are living with chronic kidney disease and the numbers continue to rise,” says Val Dunphy, executive director of the Kidney Foundation, Manitoba branch. “We are committed to kidney health, optimal quality of life, and a cure for kidney disease.”
This vision of quality kidney care guides the Kidney Foundation to be a collaborative, inventive and focused leader in the development of programs, services, research opportunities and awareness campaigns. Together with your support, the Kidney Foundation can continue to make vast improvements that will have a positive impact on the thousands of Manitobans living with, or at risk of developing, kidney disease. The Manitoba branch offers programs such as short-term financial assistance, Kidney Connect peer support, an education bursary, as well as other patient-centred initiatives to improve the lives of people affected by kidney disease, such as Stephanie and Donald. “When my husband, Donald, was diagnosed with kidney disease, we faced an incredible financial burden. We were travelling four-hours round trip, three times a week, for dialysis treatment. The medications, equipment rental fees, and occasional overnight accommodations were really adding up,” Stephanie says. “We didn’t know how we were going to make ends meet but luckily we had the Kidney Foundation to turn to for support.”Armando Versace, director of programs, policy and communications at the Kidney Foundation, asks people to “imagine finding out your newborn baby is in renal failure or working your whole life towards retirement only to find out your time and life savings would be spent keeping you alive on dialysis.”Kidney disease can affect anyone at any time in their life — from birth to retirement — and it affects more than just the individual. The whole family feels the burden. It can be overwhelming for patients and their families, and that’s why we are here offering support to the kidney community. Our look may have changed, but our commitment to kidney care hasn’t.”
Kidney Foundation
The Kidney Foundation develops programs, services, research opportunities and awareness campaigns that have had a positive impact on the millions of Canadians living with, or at risk of developing kidney disease. Its national research program is one of the most important sources of funding for scientists conducting kidney-related research. We are also committed to providing education, information and support about kidneys and kidney disease.