Looking Forward

Ontario Branch 1599 Hurontario St., Ste. 201

Mississauga, ON L5G 4S1 1-800-387-4474 • 905-278-3003 ontario@kidney.ca

African-Caribbean Kidney Association 1-800-387-4474 president@acka.ca Brant County 1-800-387-4474 brant.president@kidney.ca Central Ontario 1-800-387-4474 • 905-278-3003 daniela.piotrowski@kidney.ca

Chinese Renal Association 1-800-387-4474 shukyu.fong@kidney.ca Durham Region 1-800-387-4474 Eastern Ontario 1-800-387-4474 •613-724-9953 jennifer.heale@kidney.ca Hamilton & District 1-800-387-4474 deanna.kulczycky@kidney.ca Kingston 1-800-387-4474 • 613-542-2121 sarah.jensen@kidney.ca London & District 1-800-387-4474 • 519-950-5362 carl.cadogan@kidney.ca Niagara & District 1-800-387-4474 deanna.kulczycky@kidney.ca North Bay 1-800-387-4474 Northern Superior 807-624-2680 ontario@kidney.ca Sarnia-Lambton 519-344-3462 corinne.isaacs@kidney.ca Sault Ste. Marie 705-949-0400 tannis.mcmillan@kidney.ca Timmins-Porcupine 1-800-387-4474 • 705-365-7492 timmins.president@kidney.ca Waterloo – Wellington & District 226-338-6961 leigh-anne.quinn@kidney.ca Windsor & District 519-977-9211 shannon.vanwatteghem@kidney.ca

The Kidney Foundation continues to ramp up its effort to reach more Canadians affected by kidney disease and provide information, education and support in meaningful ways to help each step of the way.

Webinars have been an effective way to bring together expertise, patient perspectives and create an open dialogue on topics of importance to our community. A series of webinars in 2022 on body image and chronic kidney disease were well received by participants. In this issue of Kidney Living, we’re delving deeper to share more information on this important topic. Check out the Q&A with Renal Social Worker, Jose Medeiros on page 13. Patient partners, Dan and Kristin also tell their personal stories to share their lived experience. Your medical team, including your renal social worker, can be important resources in discussing issues related to body positivity and self-esteem. Our Peer Support volunteers are also here to support you, to answer your questions and share their experience.

For those of you ready to hit the open road, we’ve gathered a series of articles with tips and advice on traveling while living with kidney disease, including tips for understanding travel insurance, understanding how to process claims for out-of-country hemodialysis treatments and travel insurance.

I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge and include a special thank you to Donna Lee and Gustavo Pancorvo from GEPM Group. I have worked with this incredible duo for close to 15 years bringing this publication to you. From editing the stories, designing to printing, they have been an integral part of this journey from its inception. While this issue will be their last as they head into a much-deserved retirement, the show will go on and you can expect Kidney Living in your mailbox again in the Spring of 2023.

Trish Reynolds, Editor 