In this issue:
AMKD Awareness Day | Kidney donation and transplant | Spring 37 Mile Challenge | Kidney Action Week™ recap | Take action for kidney screenings | Kidney disease headlines | Recipe: Country biscuits and gravy

AMKD Awareness Day

The first national APOL1-Mediated Kidney Disease (AMKD) Awareness Day is coming up on April 30! AMKD Awareness Day serves as an opportunity for communities, organizations and families to better understand APOL1-mediated kidney disease—a genetic condition that can cause kidney failure—and become APOL1 aware.

The AMKD Awareness Day Community Toolkit has everything you need to be a part of the big day, including information about AMKD, patient guides, infographics and images and posts you can share on social media.

Types of living donor kidney transplants

April is National Donate Life Month—a time to celebrate life and honor those who have given the gift of life by donating an organ.

Thanks to our community of generous supporters, the American Kidney Fund (AKF) has made 134 life-saving transplants possible every month and advocates for selfless living donors in the kidney community. But there are still over 103,000 people on the waiting list for an organ transplant.

There’s no better time than Donate Life Month to learn more about kidney transplants and becoming a living donor.

Join the 37 Mile Challenge

It's time to register for AKF’s annual 37 Mile Challenge!

Every May, the AKF community pledges to walk or run 37 miles in this virtual event to raise critical funds for patients in honor of the 1 in 7 Americans living with kidney disease. 

The Challenge is fun, rewarding and easy—just 1.2 miles a day! It’s a great way to stay active, honor kidney patients nationwide and help fight kidney disease on all fronts—all while enjoying the beautiful spring weather.

Kidney Action Week™ 2024 recap

Kidney Action Week™ 2024 was the perfect way to cap off another wonderful Kidney Month.

Thousands of people from the kidney community—those with kidney disease, caregivers, renal (kidney) professionals and advocates—tuned in throughout the week to discuss everything from the causes of kidney disease to future treatments.

If you were unable to join us, all of the week’s content was recorded and can be watched on our YouTube channel.

Ask your representative to support screenings for kidney disease

The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is reviewing evidence to decide if kidney screenings should be included as part of a normal annual physical. This review isn’t done very often—the last time they reviewed kidney screenings guidelines was in 2012.

Regular kidney disease screenings would give patients an early diagnosis. This can provide an opportunity for patients to make lifestyle changes or take medications that could allow them to avoid or delay kidney failure and dialysis.

Members of the United States House of Representatives are circulating a letter that urges the USPSTF to support recommending screenings for kidney disease as a preventive service. Please ask your representative to sign this important letter.

Kidney disease in the news

In this digest, you will find some headlines you may have missed that we feel are worth sharing:

• First living patient with transplanted pig kidney goes home from the hospital (CNN)
• New KDIGO Guideline Supports Genetic Testing for the Majority of CKD Patients to Establish Cause of Disease (Natera)
• FDA Approves Vadadustat for Treatment of Anemia due to CKD in Patients on Dialysis (Patient Care)
• A biased test kept thousands of Black people from getting a kidney transplant. It’s finally changing (Associated Press)
• Axios Event: Leaders talk ways to improve kidney disease care (Axios)
• Fan donates kidney to former Boston Red Sox pitcher (NBC Boston)
• Michigan mother gives 2-year-old second chance at life through living donor transplant (Click On Detroit)

Kidney Kitchen® recipe: Country biscuits and gravy

Recipe contributed by Satellite Healthcare

Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min

Biscuits and gravy is the ultimate Southern comfort meal.

This hearty recipe uses homemade biscuits and ground beef gravy. Enjoy this classic at your next family breakfast or weekend brunch.

AKF is committed to providing the kidney community with the latest resources to educate and empower people with kidney disease to receive the best care on their kidney journey. Our ongoing work is made possible by our generous donors and sponsors. Learn how you can join our community of supporters here.