Update on My Aunt's PKD Walk Donations

My Aunt (who lives in New Mexico) has been raising funds for the upcoming PKD walk. As of today, she is half-way to her goal of $250.

You can check out her page here:
http://www.pkdcure.org/site/TR/Events/General?px=1299262&pg=personal&fr_id=1761&et=IC1_zUytcKWwSoFVuudxhQ..&s_tafId=14640

Thank you to everyone who has donated. The money goes to help research into Polycystic Kidney Disease and hopefully some day will help fund the cure for this disease (if not for me, then for others).


In other news - it has been just over 8 months since I had my transplant on January 11, 2007. I am doing well and am glad to have received the new kidney. I am thankful that I have been doing well so far.

I turned in a 24-hour urine and a blood test last Monday. My Glofil test was a little lower last time than it had been, and it worried me just a little bit. I asked the doctor if there were any problems and they suggested that we do some testing. I have not heard anything from them yet, and I hope that means that nothing is wrong. I guess if I have not heard anything by Monday I will probably call them and find out my results.

But, all is well here. I look forward to good news from the doctor. And, I look forward to the next eight months being just as good as the first.

See you later!

September 2007 PKD Walk

Greetings everyone!

I got a message from my aunt this week (she lives in New Mexico). Here is the letter that she is sending to all of her friends:

A message from Beverly Laude laude@gilanet.com.

Dear Friends and Family,

Most of you know that my nephew, Nathan, has Polycystic Kidney Disease and received a kidney transplant in January 2007. Now, he is leading a (mostly) normal life, no longer dependent on dialysis to live. My niece, Angela, also has PKD, but so far is not facing as many devasting medical problems as Nathan.

I am participating in the Walk for PKD. I've set a challenging goal to raise mondy to fund research to find a cure for PKD! With your help, we can make a real difference, together.

Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) is one of the most common life-threatening genetic diseases, affecting 600,000 Americans and 12.5 million people worldwide. In fact, it affects more people than cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, sickle cell anemia, hemophilia, Down syndrome and Huntington's disease--combined! Still, few people know about it. There is no treatment and no cure... Yet. I am walking to change that.

You can make a secure donation online by simply clicking the link at the bottom of this message. Whatever you can give will make an impact - no donation is too small! I truly appreciate your support and will keep you posted on my progress.

Thank you for helping me help find a cure for PKD!
Click here to visit my personal page.
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
http://www.pkdcure.org/site/TR/Events/General?px=1299262&pg=personal&fr_id=1761&et=xvlZnu901lYDo5psiWr85Q..&s_tafId=14537

She is going to walk in the 2007 PKD walk. If you would like to help in the fight to find a cure for Polycystic Kidney disease, please visit the link above and donate some money to help find a cure. You may not know me or anyone else with Polycystic Kidney Disease, but this could be your chance to help find a cure to the most prevalent genetic disease in our world today.

Please take a minute to visit her link and donate, if you feel so led. Thanks for taking the time out of your schedule for this message (and hopefully, become a sponsor).

Enjoy your day!!

September 12 - Update

Welcome to the blog everyone. It is Tuesday, September 12, 2006, and today is a pretty good day. Let me give everyone updates on what is going on, and hopefully you’ll learn a little more about where I am at this point.

One
My friend Josh has begun his testing process. He went in to the doctor’s office on Wednesday and Thursday of last week, spending his entire day being poked and scanned. There are a few tests that he still has to send in and a couple more appointments to take care of, and then his portion of the testing will be complete. From there, all we have to do is to wait and see how they like his kidneys, and if I will like one of them.
Read it: http://joshotrades.blogspot.com/2006/09/one-weeks-time.html

Two
My friend Kelly (who lives in Minnesota) is going to participate in a PKD walk (it’s kind of like a Race for the Cure, if you are more familiar with that). 85% of the donations raised in the Walks go directly to pay for research for a cure to PKD (I’m guessing the rest goes to cover administrative costs). Her goal is $220, and I know you can all give a little bit to help her reach it. Check out her site, and make a small donation (even $5 or $10 would help).
http://www.pkdcure.org/site/TR?px=1219283&pg=personal&fr_id=1455&s_tafId=6822

Three
Now, it’s back to me, personally. Today is Tuesday, and I have another dialysis treatment today. I had my monthly blood work done last week, so I should see the results today. I am hoping that my phosphorus will still be in the safe range, which would be nice. Please pray that those results will all be in the “normal” range.

I got two sticks on Saturday, with a new technician (new to me, not to being a tech). He was able to get the needles in quickly and easily, and the machine ran at 400 ml/min for almost the entire four hours. I am glad that there are now three technicians that have had successful sticks on my upper arm fistula. This is good news for me, since not all the same technicians work every shift that I am there. I now have greater choice when it comes to getting my needles put in.

I want to thank everyone that has been praying. Keep praying that God’s will is going to be done concerning Josh’s kidney. If it is not the kidney that God has planned for me, then I do not want it. I want to follow Him in this decision. Please pray that my treatments will continue to go well and that I will get good sticks at each treatment.

Thanks for coming!

Kelly Solheim

I am writing today to inform you all of some exciting news. A friend of mine from high school, Kelly Solheim, is going to participate in one of the many 2006 PKD Walks that go on through out the country. She is going to walk, and is attempting to raise $220 for the PKD Foundation so that they can help find a cure for this disease.

Here is the web site where you can make donations for her walk:
http://www.pkdcure.org/site/TR?px=1219283&pg=personal&fr_id=1455&s_tafId=6822

Kelly and I became friends back in 1990 at Kimmons Junior High School in Fort Smith, Arkansas. We had many classes together (including Gifted and Talented) over the years, and both graduated from Northside High School in 1996. Kelly got married and has moved up north. We recently got to see each other again at our 10-year high school reunion.

I would encourage everyone to go to her site and make a donation for the walk. The PKD Foundation needs all the money it can get, and I would love for her to meet her goal (or even to surpass it).

If anyone else wants to get involved in a PKD walk, let me know. There are walks all over the country (including locally in Dallas). I can get you information if you would like to participate.

Thanks for checking out Kelly’s site (and donating, if you feel led). I was extremely touched by her wanting to help out in this way.