The medical team believes that the in-line transfusion between their fathers years ago may have played a role in the compatibility of the transplant. Circumstances beyond her control have shaped Dorothy Krummel’s life, for better and worse. Yet, the bigger picture has worked in her favor and unexpected individuals have carried her through her darkest moments. READ MORE >>

Five years ago I learned that my kidneys had failed and I would need to start dialysis to survive. Soon after, I found myself dealing with the sudden death of my mother. Dealing with these two sudden, devastating events at the same time was very challenging and I wasn’t sure how to make things work. READ MORE >>

I’ve had kidney disease for half my life, and I have worked hard to do what I needed to in spite of it—graduating high school, college and graduate school, and pursuing my career in education. READ MORE >>

Nine years at stage 3 CKD and holding—Gail Rae-Garwood shares her experience about slowing down CKD. READ MORE >>

Stephanie Holladay of Portland, Oregon, gave her kidney to Scott Warren on May 9, 2016 and both patients are recovering well. Read her story in our latest blog. READ MORE >>

As a patient services advocate who works with potential transplant recipients at a major hospital, I spend a lot of time correcting misperceptions and educating patients about what they need to do to get on the transplant list. As a kidney transplant recipient, I have a lot of “inside knowledge” that I readily share with anyone who will listen. READ MORE >>

Dialysis, isolation, depression, anger. Each of these words has a separate meaning but they seem to go hand-in-hand with each other. For many dialysis patients, these words combine to form a “new normal” state brought on by living with kidney failure. READ MORE >>

It took Steve Winfree of Knoxville, Tennessee, 12 years to be comfortable talking about living with kidney disease. “I want my story to be proof that kidney disease is not a period in my life, but rather a comma just before the next amazing journey in my life.” READ MORE >>

Last week, to kick off National Kidney Month, American Kidney Fund (AKF) patient-advocates from around the country came to Washington to educate their elected officials about the financial challenges kidney patients experience, and to urge lawmakers to put an end to discriminatory practices among some health insurers. READ MORE >>

Julie Lippke and her daughter Alexandra, an eighth-grader, are taking on the challenge of hiking Hadrian’s Wall in northern England during Alexandra’s spring break this month. They are doing it to test their own limits—and to honor Alexandra’s grandfather Jerry Lippke, who has been living with kidney failure for over five years. READ MORE >>

Anytime we hear about someone who suffers from a chronic disease, it’s easy to use the disease as a label to describe the person: “There's so and so, she has cancer,” or “He’s a diabetic.” Everyone is guilty of doing this at one time or another, and I have noticed that many doctors unknowingly make this mistake, too. READ MORE >>

There are two sides to every kidney donation story—the selfless decision made by the donor and the priceless gift received by the recipient. Richard Patterson III almost lost his father to cancer, so when his dad’s remaining kidney failed, he stepped up to become a living donor in June 2014. READ MORE >>