Why I Walk

I walk because too many families (like mine) are coping with this devastating chronic illness, and thousands more will face an unexpected kidney disease diagnosis in the year to come.

I walk to support the lifechanging work of the National Kidney Foundation:
     - To ensure that families will have a place to turn when they need answers.
     - To keep up the fight for policy changes to protect kidney patients and living donors.
     - To drive innovation in transplantation and get more loved ones off the kidney transplant waitlist.

Are you with me?

The main reason I walk:
In 1992, at the age of 13, I was diagnosed with Kidney disease. When I found out I needed a transplant, my kidneys were working at 14%.  I received my first transplant in May of 1993.  It lasted 6 years and I went back on dialysis on Dec 18, 1998.  I had my second transplant on May 9, 1999.  It was from Charlie.  It lasted 19 years.  I ended up coming down with c-diff colitis in 2017 and due to it lost my kidney.  I returned to dialysis on Aug 6, 2018.  I am still on dialysis waiting for my third kidney.  I am so grateful to my dad and to Charlie's family.  I am truly blessed. Without these 2, I wouldn't have had a life that I could enjoy.