Today is the Great Chefs of America National Kidney Foundation Event.   I was asked to speak during the program.   I was honored to be asked.   They will be displaying my billboard on a PowerPoint while I am speaking, so hope to get some exposure.   I believe they are expecting 400 people, wow.   Need to raise awareness of living kidney donation and I hope I can help do that.

I am in the process of establishing a non profit called the Medullary Cystic Kidney Disease Foundation.    I have filed with the State and Federal, now just need to apply for section 501(c)(3) status.   From there I plan to establish a website and make plans to provide a resource for families and patients with this disease.   Goal is to do what we can to slow down or stop this disease; and increase awareness of living kidney donation.  More info to come.

Was able to get a way to Vegas for a few days with my family.   Vegas is a good place to go because it is so close to the airport, so much easier to get back to MN should I get called for a transplant.   I only have 8 hours to get to the U of MN if I am called for a transplant so have to consider that when doing any traveling.   Instead of bringing my dialysis machine with I did manual day bags every 4 hours.   This actually work pretty well, just had to schedule the day around my treatments, still was an inconvenience but made it work.   The trip was so relaxing, laid around the pool a couple days, just what the doctor ordered.   Now back at it.  Also was able to see my billboard, our gate was right by it.  Very impressive, thank you again to those that made it happen.   Also, thank you to those the visit my website as a result.

My billboard goes up today at the Mpls International Airport.   I am hoping this will draw people to my website and raise awareness of kidney donation and my need.   I am keeping my faith that a suitable donor will come forward soon.   The maintenance of my condition is quite tiring.  My billboard is in Concourse G north – gate 6.  See a picture of it above.

Good news, my fistula is still working!  This is such a relief.  Now I do not have to worry about a graph.   I will be ready when I need to switch to hemodialysis.   Keeping the faith.