| AAKP News of the Month: Become an AAKP Board Member
AAKP encourages kidney patients, caregivers and health care professionals to apply to become a member of its 2009-2010 National Board of Directors. Elections are held in July, with new members seated at the 36th Annual Convention in September. Board members serve two-year terms. The deadline to submit nominations is May 22, 2009.
The AAKP Board of Directors is responsible for establishing goals and policies for the Association. Board members must attend three meetings per year, participate in conference calls and committee membership.
For more information about the AAKP Board of Directors or to request a nomination form, please contact AAKP at (800) 749-AAKP or visit the AAKP Web site to download a copy of the nomination form. Self-nominations are encouraged. |
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| Kidney Donors Survive and Thrive |
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A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found living kidney donors live as long or longer and enjoy better quality of life than the general population. The study is the first of its kind, inverstigating donors over a long period of time.
During the study, only 11 out of almost 3,700 participants developed severe kidney problems. Researchers also found donors had a better quality of life then the general population 60 percent of the time.
Living kidney donors are carefully screened before being allowed to donate so they must be generally healthy. Donors cannot have any trace of diabetes, high blood pressure or any other chronic diseases or health issues. |
| Find Out How You Can Make a Difference! |
 Are you looking for a special way to recognize a person who has made a difference in your life? AAKP's Make a Difference campaign allows individuals to honor a special person in their life. A donation made to AAKP in the name of that special person is a meaningful way to show your appreciation.
Your gift helps AAKP continue to improve the quality of health and quality of life for all kidney patients. When you make a donation to the Make a Difference campaign, AAKP sends a note to let the honoree know about your thoughtful gift. Make a Difference honorees also receive a special certificate.
For more information about the Make a Difference campaign, please visit the AAKP Web site or contact AAKP at (800) 749-AAKP. |
| Donate Life America Accepting Nominations for Dr. James S. Wolf Courage Award |
Donate Life America is currently accepting nominations for the 2009 Dr. James S.  Wolf Courage Award. The award is named after a transplant surgeon pioneer and founder of the Coalition on Donation (now Donate Life America). The award is presented to an individual or individuals outside the professional transplantation and donation community who have played a significant role in helping educate the public about organ, eye and tissue donation.
Donate Life America's Board of Directors will select a recipient for the award from the pool of nominees and present this year's award on June 15 at the 2009 Spring Meeting and Donor Designation Collaborative Session in St. Louis, MO. Nominations must be returned to Donate Life America by May 8, 2009.
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| AAKP HealthLine Call Focuses on Patient Perspective |
 AAKP's upcoming HealthLine conference call, titled The Patient Perspective - Understanding Patient/Family Centered Care, focuses on patient/family centered care. This call features a patient panel with a health care professional serving as moderator, and discusses the need for patients and their families to be instrumental in their health care plan. This is a great call for health care professionals!
This AAKP HealthLine call takes place April 30, from 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. ET. For more information about AAKP HealthLine or to register for this call, please visit the AAKP Web site or contact AAKP at (800) 749-AAKP. |
| AAKP's Annual Convention Offers Something for Everyone |
 AAKP's Annual Convention is a fun, three-day event for kidney patients, their families and friends. This year, the AAKP Convention takes place Sept. 3 - 5, in Denver, Colo., and features new and exciting educational sessions for kidney patients of all stages. Some of the topics covered include:
- Innovations in kidney disease,
- Kidney friendly diet information,
- Tips on self-care,
- Kidney transplant topics,
- And 30 Lunch with the Experts tables!
Hotel reservations can be made by calling the Hyatt Regency Denver at (800) 233-1234. To receive the preferred rate of $120 per night, identify yourself as an American Association of Kidney Patients' Convention attendee.
Convention registration will open in late spring. Please continue checking the AAKP Web site for Convention updates. Information is posted as it becomes available. |
Social Connection Means More to Donors than Compensation
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Results from the study discovered 95 percent of participants would donate a kidney to an immediate family member, 86 percent would donate to a close friend and 84 percent would donate to a member of their extended family. On the other hand, only 37 percent of participants would donate a kidney to an acquaintance and 26 percent would be willing to donate to a stranger.
When examining the motivations of potential donors, the research did find strong support for compensated medical expenses, lost wages and a federal tax cut. Many participants also endorsed altruistic donation with no compensation. | |
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 Astellas Pharma US, Inc. is proud to sponsor this edition of Kidney Transplant Today. | |
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Research reported at the National Kidney Foundation's Spring Clinical Meeting found 