A simple question—“What do you wish others understood about living with kidney disease?”—unleashed a torrent of comments on our Facebook page recently. Kidney disease itself is often invisible until the late stages; once it progresses to kidney failure, patients need dialysis or a transplant to live. People living with kidney disease and kidney failure tell us they often feel that others do not understand what they are going through, both physically and emotionally. READ MORE >>

In recognition of November as National Family Caregivers Month, Kidney Today sat down with Keith McDonald, AKF’s 2014 Caregiver of the Year, to learn about his experience as the primary caregiver for his wife, Rameika, who is living with kidney disease and undergoes dialysis three times a week. READ MORE >>

UNOS is adjusting its kidney allocation policy to better account for the biologic needs of people with immune system sensitivity and maximize the use of kidneys. In his Kidney Today blog post, Richard Formica, M.D., chair of the OPTN/UNOS Kidney Transplantation Committee, explains the new criteria. READ MORE >>

Among minorities, the need for kidney transplants is disproportionately high, so donations are essential. Anthony Brown, a patient-advocate with American Kidney Fund, shared his story about donating one of his kidneys to his mother last year on World Kidney Day. Anthony is one of many inspirational advocates in the American Kidney Fund network who has donated a kidney to a friend or family member. READ MORE >>

It’s National Minority Donor Awareness Week! The need for organ donors, especially among ethnic minorities, has never been greater. Today, more than 100,000 people are on the waiting list for a kidney transplant in the United States—of which more than 63 percent are ethnic minorities. READ MORE >>

Thomas Jones learned about the connection between high blood pressure and kidney disease the hard way. He’s made it his personal mission to make sure everyone in his community understands that high blood pressure can lead to kidney disease. READ MORE >>

Rhonda Horton’s father kept his kidney disease a secret from his children for five years. Read her Father’s Day blog post about the lessons she has learned and why it’s so important to learn your family’s health history. READ MORE >>

Last year on World Kidney Day, when I was 25 years old, I donated my left kidney to my mother. In my experience, donating a kidney to my mother was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. The reality is you only need one kidney to survive. And for most kidney patients, a kidney transplant is a chance for a better life. READ MORE >>

Proposed changes to Medicare Part D could limit kidney transplant patients’ access to some anti-rejection medicines. We’re urging CMS to maintain coverage for these medications. READ MORE >>

February is Black History Month. Did you know African-Americans are more at risk for kidney failure than any other race? Nearly 1 in 3 kidney failure patients living in the United States is African-American. Learn more from our infographic. READ MORE >>

The month of February is a time to celebrate with the ones you love – but it can also be about educating them on health conditions they need to be aware of to ensure they are here to celebrate Valentine’s Day for years to come. I was very lucky to find my perfect match in a husband and kidney donor. I’m even luckier that we have made a commitment to lead a healthy life together and share our knowledge with others. READ MORE >>