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 >>

High blood pressure affects one in three Americans—68 million people. Less than half of these individuals have it under control, and 20 percent don’t even know they have the disease because it often shows no signs or symptoms. If this pressure stays high over time, it can lead to kidney disease and other health problems like heart disease, heart attack and stroke. 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 >>

Earlier this month, the American Kidney Fund (AKF) hosted 10 advocates from our Advocacy Network in Washington to meet with legislators and raise awareness for kidney disease prevention, education and research. We sat down with one patient-advocate, Monica Jemison from Waukegan, Ill., to hear about her experience on Capitol Hill. READ MORE >>

The only way to know if your kidneys are functioning properly is to get tested. With early detection, chronic kidney disease (CKD) can be managed and its progression can often be slowed. That’s why taking advantage of AKF’s free health and kidney screenings is so important for your health. READ MORE >>

National Kidney Month is a great time to make an appointment for a kidney check-up. Be proactive in knowing about your kidneys and ways to protect them. Make sure that you ask your doctor if your kidney function has been checked in the past year, and if not, ask if you can get simple blood or urine tests to check how well your kidneys are functioning. READ MORE >>

The nation’s patient advocacy organizations alerted the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and members of Congress to the negative impact its proposed policy change would have on transplant patients’ health. CMS listened. 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 >>

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 >>