The Kidney-Link newsletter of The Kidney Foundation of Canada / Quebec Branch

Your Health

Nocturnal home hemodialysis

Kidney-Link Volume 23 • No.2 • Fall 2011

Quebec Branch Newsletter

A new president for The Kidney Foundation of Canada – Quebec Branch

“Gift of Life” Humanitarian Award BFI Usine de Triage Lachenaie Ltée receives the 2011 “Gift of Life” Humanitarian Award.

Page 8

The Quebec Branch welcomes its new president, Christopher Gobeil. Read his first message on page 2.

The Walk of The Kidney Foundation of Canada On Sunday, May 15, over 1,100 people in Chicoutimi, Gatineau, Montreal, Quebec City, Sherbrooke and Trois-Rivières took part in The Kidney Walk and raised $210,000 to support people with kidney disease and raise public awareness of the importance of organ donation. The Kidney Foundation of Canada wishes to thank its sponsors and volunteers, as well as the generous donors who got involved in this year’s Kidney Walk.

The sponsors who contributed to the success of the 2011 Kidney Walk: Pfizer • Astellas • Clément • Hindu Mandir • Wendy’s • La Revue Info07.com • La Commission de la capitale nationale du Québec • Rythme FM

Despite the poor weather, huge numbers of Quebecers turned up to take part in the Kidney Walk.

• A word from the President ........................................ 2 • Prizes Awarded at the Annual Conference ................. 3 • News from the Chapters ........................................... 5 • Patient Services......................................................... 7

• Organ Donation......................................................... 8 • Research ................................................................... 9 • Bulletin Board .......................................................... 10

The foundation of kidney care

The personal information you have provided is used only to send you this newsletter. To stop receiving it, please e-mail us at infoquebec@kidney.ca or call us at 514-938-4515.

A word from the president I have been a volunteer with The Kidney Foundation of Canada at various levels and roles for the last 20 years. Last May in Val d’Or, by electing me President of the Quebec Branch, the members of the Foundation gave me a great honour, and an equally great responsibility.

Readers: You can help enrich our newsletter by sharing your experiences with kidney disease or kidney transplantation. Please send a text of no more than 300 words, along with a high-resolution photo, to infoquebec@kidney.ca.

COORDINATION AND WRITING Antoine Ardiley GRAPHICS AND PUBLISHING Ardecom PRODUC TION Ardecom CONTAC T US: The Kidney Foundation of Canada – Quebec Branch 2300 René-Lévesque Blvd West, Montreal, QC H3H 2R5 TELEPHONE 514-938-4515 or 1-800-565-4515 FAX 514-938-4757 E-MAIL infoquebec@kidney.ca Circulation: 10,000 copies The Kidney-Link newsletter and Your Health insert are published three times a year by the Quebec Branch of The Kidney Foundation of Canada. Distributed in English and French to all people suffering from kidney failure, these publications provide valuable information on the Foundation’s services and activities, including the latest findings on kidney disease and organ donation.

The opinions expressed in Kidney-Link and Your Health do not necessarily reflect those of the Quebec Branch of The Kidney Foundation of Canada, its directors, employees or members.

Moving? Please let us know at infoquebec@kidney.ca.

It is a position that I do not take on lightly, nor without knowledge that it will involve a fair bit of work. Yet I take it on gladly, because The Kidney Foundation is a hard-working and dedicated charity; built by thousands of volunteers who represent every aspect of our society proudly, with dedication and resolve.

We know that no matter what we do, for one reason or another, people will suffer from kidney dysfunction, disease or failure. Yet we never give up, and we cannot give in. So we promote research into causes, prevention and treatment of kidney dysfunction and disease. Since it was established in Montreal in 1964, The Kidney Foundation of Canada has invested over $100 million in research grants, which have resulted in solid and measurable improvements in the lives and outcomes of kidney patients.

We know from hard scientific research and cold economic facts that the best outcome that we can offer those suffering renal failure is a kidney transplant. So we dedicate our resources towards promoting organ donation wherever we can.

Over the past few years we have successfully launched our Kidney Walks throughout Quebec, which both promote organ donation and raise funds in a way that is very cost-effective. This year our Kidney Walks were very successful and are now held in six cities: Chicoutimi, Gatineau, Montreal, Quebec City, Sherbrooke and Trois-Rivières. We attracted 1,100 walkers, and raised a record amount of $210,000. We also obtained significant positive media coverage throughout Quebec, for both organ donation in general, and The Kidney Foundation in particular.

Our organization is not funded by governments, but relies on a multitude of donations made by concerned and well-wishing individuals like you and me. Our Branch has worked very hard over the years to optimize the way that we raise money and invest towards the fulfillment of our Mission. We can be very proud of the work that we have done. This will help us going into the future, because in today’s ultra-competitive charity environment, evidence of waste will cause people to quickly change their charitable giving habits.

Everything that we do is built with the dedication and perseverance of our volunteers, working together with our small team of permanent staff. I want to thank you all for your heroic efforts, and encourage those of you who can, to volunteer with us. I assure you that my time as a volunteer with the Foundation has involved some hard work, but mostly it has involved building our organization together with some of the finest people you could ever hope to meet.

In closing, I would like to personally thank one of those fine people, Alain Ouimet, who has been the President of our Branch for the past two years. Alain has done a fantastic job of leading the Branch, from working on the development of our volunteers and Chapters to representing our Branch at the National level of the Foundation. His warmth, kindness and professionalism have provided the leadership our Branch has required, and have set a great example for me to follow.

Thanks, Alain!

Christopher Gobeil President of The Kidney Foundation of Canada – Quebec Branch

Articles may be reproduced provided that the source is quoted.

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Kidney-Link • Fall 2011

The Foundation would like to thank for its contribution to this Kidney-Link Edition.

Together we can make a difference

Recognition awards given out at the 2011 Annual Conference The President’s Award

The Morty Tarder Award

was given to Lévi Trottier in recognition of his loyalty and exceptional support in the organization of the door-to-door campaign, his pursuit of excellence, and his focus on successfully achieving objectives.

was given to the S aguenay-L ac -S aint-Jean Chapter for what was an outstanding 2010, during which the spotlight shone on volunteers whose dedication and commitment are examples to us all.

From left to right: Alain Ouimet, outgoing President of The Kidney Foundation of Canada – Quebec Branch; Miguel Trottier, Administrator of the Abitibi-Témiscamingue Chapter; Luc Trottier, Communications Coordinator for the Abitibi-Témiscamingue Chapter.

From left to right: Alain Ouimet, outgoing President of The Kidney Foundation of Canada – Quebec Branch; Noëlla Gagné, President of the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean Chapter; Nathalie Saulnier, Coordinator of the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean Chapter.

The Communications Award

Jean-Jacques Bégin Award

was given to Br un o S avard for promoting the work of the Quebec Branch among the general public, and for his availability, commitment and involvement as Kidney Walk spokesperson since the event was first launched.

went to the n ep h ro lo g ists at the S he r b ro oke U ni versity Ho sp ital C entr e (doctors Jean-François Bilodeau, Anne-Marie Côté, Ève-Reine Gagné, Nathalie Langlois, Mélanie Masse, Paul Montanbault, Tewfik Nawar, Martin Plaisance, Gérard E. Plante and Jean-Luc Wolff) in recognition of their inestimable support and involvement, which in concrete terms meant giving lectures on kidney research and transplantation, staffing a stand used to educate the public about kidney disease and promote organ and tissue donation, and helping to develop activities to raise funds for research and public awareness campaigns through the Eastern Townships Chapter.

The Financial Development Award went to Martin Poulin for his outstanding contribution to the success of Quebec City’s Kidney Walk. This long-time volunteer, who has always been very available and greatly committed, personally solicited Beauce-area companies for both the Fall Campaign and the Kidney Walk.

The Michel Perron Award was given to Corus Québec for its invaluable support as a dedicated partner of the Laval Police Spaghetti Day.

Kidney-Link • Fall 2011

Your donation goes a long way at The Kidney Foundation

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Recognition awards given out at the 2011 Annual Conference

The Organ Donation Award

The Chapter Volunteer Award

went to Dr. Yves Jalbert, Director of Biovigilance, and his management team at the province’s health and social services department, the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec (MSSS), in recognition of their outstanding involvement in the organ and tissue donation cause, and for their perseverance and leadership in their quest to give increased hope to Quebecers awaiting a kidney transplant. Speaking on behalf of the Foundation in discussions with the MSSS, they were important allies in the file dealing with reimbursements for living donors’ expenses, not to mention vital partners in securing Quebec’s involvement in the Canadian registry for incompatible donors, the Living Donor Paired Exchange (LDPE). These measures resulted in the recent adoption of Bill 125, which facilitates organ and tissue donation.

went to: Noëlla Gagné of the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean Chapter; Lise Lapierre of the Abitibi-Témiscamingue Chapter; Lucie Pelletier of the Eastern Townships Chapter; Hélène Hallé of the Outaouais-Québécois Chapter; Denis Villeneuve of the Quebec City Chapter (André Mainguy Award); Jean-François Rousselle of the Montreal-Metropolitan Chapter (Marcel Dufresne Award) below on the photo.

From left to right: Jean Rousselle, founder of the Laval Police Spaghetti Day; Linda Pellas, Development Director, The Kidney Foundation of Canada – Quebec Branch; Alexandre Raymond, Vice-President of Development, Montreal-Metropolitan Chapter; Lyse-Ann Bélanger, President, Montreal-Metropolitan Chapter; Jean-François Rousselle, organizer of the Laval Police Spaghetti Day and recipient of the Award.

From left to right: Martin Munger, Executive Director of The Kidney Foundation of Canada – Quebec Branch; Dr. Yves Jalbert, Director of Biovigilance, Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec; Martin Gauthier of the Biovigilance Department, Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec.

The 2011 “Gift of Life” Humanitarian Award went to BFI Usine de triage Lachenaie Ltée (details on page 8)

The 2011-2012 Kidney Foundation of Canada – Quebec Branch Executive Committee Caption (left to right): Sylvain Thibault, Vice-President of Volunteer Resources; Nora Kelly, Secretary-Treasurer; Simon Brodeur, Vice-President of Programs; Alain Ouimet, outgoing President;

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Christopher Gobeil, President; Kidney-Link • Fall 2011

Together we can make a difference

News from the Chapters OUTAOUAIS

MONTREAL-METROPOLITAN

Outaouais Golf Tournament

Cunningham's Golf Tournament

The Outaouais-Québécois Chapter’s golf tournament took place on June 10, 2011, at the Montpellier Golf Club. This 17th edition was presided over by honorary president Jocelyn Filiatrault of Investors Group. The event was attended by 129 golfers and raised $18,000. The Outaouais-Québécois Chapter of The Kidney Foundation of Canada would like to thank all its sponsors—Investors Group, Brookfield Renewable Power, Léo Pharma Inc. and Le Droit—as well as all the participants who helped the Foundation achieve these results.

The Cunningham's first golf tournament benefiting KFoC took place in Hudson on June 10, 2011. On this occasion, 144 golfers took to the course at Falcon Golf Club and raised $13,500 to help fund research, patient programs, prevention initiatives and organ donation awareness programs. The day also served to highlight the first anniversary of a living kidney donation between twin sisters Erika and From left to right: Back: Grahame Dorcas, Brian Penny, Kristen Wilkin of Don McDougall, Brett Anderson, Paul Alexander, Andrew Dumas. Front: Kristen and Erika Wilkin.

Hudson.

From left to right: Monique Jacques, Michel Audette, Joane Roy (Golf Committee members), Karine St-Pierre, Past Coordinator at The Kidney Foundation of Canada – Outaouais-Québécois Chapter, Louise Duchesne, Golf Committee President, Claude Pigeon, Administrator at The Kidney Foundation of Canada – Quebec Branch, Joëlle Turck, Director of Volunteer Resources at The Kidney Foundation of Canada – Quebec Branch, Jocelyn Filiatrault of Investors Group, Honorary President, Yvanne Pierre-Louis, Outaouais-Québécois Chapter committee member, Nicole Therriault and Alain Thibaudeau, Golf Committee members.

The story began in 2004 when Kristen was diagnosed with HenochSchönlein purpura, an inflammatory disease that affects the body’s smallest blood vessels. By affecting capillaries, Henoch-Schönlein becomes a systemic illness that can affect the kidneys. And in 2009, that is exactly what happened: things took a turn for the worse and Kristen lost the use of her kidneys. She immediately started undergoing dialysis six times a week, a frequency that was eventually reduced to only three times a week. Specialized genetic testing was later conducted at the Royal Victoria Hospital to check whether the twins were compatible, a key requirement for kidney transplants. As a result of the positive results, the transplant finally went ahead on June 10, 2010.

Erika is thankful that she could donate a kidney: “I wish more people would inform themselves about living donation; if I had the opportunity to donate again; I would – there is no greater gift to give. Not only was I able to save the life of my twin sister but I was able to start practicing a healthier lifestyle for myself. It is such an unbelievable feeling afterwards; I realized I was stronger than I thought and feel proud of myself everyday for what I did. I saved a life; my sister's life; who without, I would not be the person I am today.”

Kidney-Link • Fall 2011

Your donation goes a long way at The Kidney Foundation

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News from the Chapters Laval Police Spaghetti Day The traditional Spaghetti Day organized by the Laval Police was held September 11, 2011, at the Sheraton Laval where over 5,000 meals were served. This annual fundraising event benefits The Kidney Foundation of Canada Summer Camp for Dialysis and Transplant Children.

Indeed, thanks to the immense popularity of this 26th Spaghetti Day, some fifty transplant and dialysis children got to enjoy a week-long change of scenery at a summer camp supervised by a specialized medical team. On behalf of the Organizing Committee and all the children living with kidney disease, The Kidney Foundation of Canada wishes to thank the Laval Police for their invaluable participation and renewed support.

Mr. Gilles Vaillancourt, Mayor of Laval and honorary president of the event (2nd from the right) came to lend a helping hand to serve meals.

A Barbecue at Concordia University Concordia University’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry held a barbecue on July 12 to benefit the Foundation. The event raised over $1,000 that will go toward funding research and helping those suffering from kidney failure. The Foundation would like to thank Miriam Posner from the department of Chemistry and Biochemistry of Concordia University for her wonderful initiative.

In the blazing sun, a hundred or so people from Concordia enjoyed a mouth-watering lunchtime barbecue.

Would you like to help the Foundation by holding your own fundraising activity?

Find out how by calling Development Director Linda Pellas at 514-938-4515, ext. 227.

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Kidney-Link • Fall 2011

We're behind you all the way

Your Health The Kidney Foundation of Canada, Quebec Branch

Volume 23 • No. 2 • Fall 2011

NOCTURNAL HOME HEMODIALYSIS Questions and answers about Nocturnal Home Hemodialysis

clean it. Peritoneal dialysis uses a filtration process similar to hemodialysis, but the blood is cleaned inside your body rather than in a machine.

What is hemodialysis?

What is dialysis?

Dialysis is a treatment for people in the later stage of chronic kidney disease (kidney failure). This treatment cleans the blood and removes wastes and excess water from the body. Normally, this work is done by healthy kidneys.

Sometimes dialysis is a temporary treatment.

However, when the loss of kidney function is permanent (as in end-stage kidney failure), you must continue to have dialysis on a regular basis.

The only other treatment for kidney failure is a kidney transplant.

There are two types of dialysis: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. In hemodialysis, your blood is passed through an artificial kidney machine to

Hemodialysis means "cleaning the blood" - and that is exactly what this treatment does. Blood is circulated through a machine which contains a dialyzer (also called an artificial kidney). The dialyzer has two spaces separated by a thin membrane. Blood passes on one side of the membrane and dialysis fluid passes on the other.

The wastes and excess water pass from the blood through the membrane into the dialysis fluid, which is then discarded. The cleaned blood is returned to your bloodstream.

What is Nocturnal Home Hemodialysis (NHHD)?

Some dialysis centres in Quebec are able to offer Nocturnal Home Hemodialysis. With this method,

The publication of this special feature was made possible thanks to the financial support of

YOUR HEALTH • Fall 2011

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Your Health

you carry out dialysis four to six nights, for six to eight hours while you sleep. NHHD greatly improves the removal of waste products form the body. It has also been found to improve wellbeing, allow you a more liberal diet and reduce the need for medications. The dialysis machine can be monitored by trained hospital staff by telephone modem or Internet. The machine will occasionally alert patients should there be any problem (most problems are minor and usually require pressing a “reset” button). However, if the patient does not respond within a reasonable period, the hospital monitor will contact them by phone.

Why choose Nocturnal Home Hemodialysis?

Do I need a special kind of dialysis machine for NHHD? No. All dialysis machines can be used, but can be modified for remote monitoring via modem or Internet connection.

What about dialysis vascular access?

Do I have to use a central venous catheter?

Because it is long and frequent, Nocturnal Home Hemodialysis can offer a very high dose of dialysis. When it comes to toxins like urea, NHHD can offer results as effective as normal kidneys. Generally, all symptoms associated with kidney failure improve or disappear. Patients report feeling more energetic, having increased stamina, improved appetites and less episodes of nausea. There are fewer complaints or other symptoms like itchy or dry skin or “restless leg syndrome”.

No, any dialysis access is good for NHHD. Almost all patients have been equipped with fistulas and less often with grafts. Catheters are still used and in many patients can be long-term accesses.

Many patients have also found their need for medications to combat such things as high blood pressure has diminished or ended altogether.

Other patients diagnosed with sleeping disorders (i.e. sleep apnea) no longer reported those problems.

Despite some noise from the dialysis machine and water system, most patients had no trouble sleeping after the first few nights. As mentioned earlier, sleep studies show patients with sleep apnea (disturbed sleeping with snoring) actually improved. Spouses also reported getting used to the system’s background sound.

What are some of the other benefits?

Probably one of the most welcome changes is the lifting of almost all dietary restrictions. Removal of phosphate has been so much better that many

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patients stop taking calcium pills and are, in fact, encouraged to eat more phosphate in their food.

Restrictions on dairy products, nuts and colas are lifted. Since dialysis is done nightly, there is no limit to the amount of water patients can drink or even the amount of salt they eat. In addition, the amount of EPO necessary decreases in most patients and some come off the blood-producing drug altogether

YOUR HEALTH • Fall 2011

What about problems sleeping while connected to a machine?

Will Nocturnal Home Hemodialysis help me get back to work?

Many HHHD patients have returned to work full time. Not only did they feel better, but had more

Your Health

free time for family and other activities since they dialyzed during the night.

How long does the training last?

Training usually last six weeks. Patients (and sometimes their spouses) report to the training unit five days a week for five or six hours daily.

The last week of training includes sleeping at the hospital overnight to put your learning to the test.

How often do I have to go to the hospital after training?

Once the home procedure is running smoothly, patients are required to attend an outpatient clinic every two months. Blood tests are usually contributed monthly and nurses and technicians are always available for telephone consultation.

Are diabetics candidates for nocturnal dialysis?

It is estimated that about 40 percent of all dialysis patients could be candidates for NHHD, including diabetics. In fact, diabetics patients can benefit even more from nocturnal dialysis.

Can patients with heart disease go on nocturnal dialysis?

Yes. In fact, the more severe the disease, the more the patient benefits from nocturnal hemodialysis.

YOUR HEALTH • Fall 2011

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Your Health

BENEFITS

• Gives patient control; • No fluid restrictions;

• Decreased medications; • Done at home;

• Home hemodialysis is less expensive than hemodialysis in the hospital.

• During non-productive sleep time; • Improved energy; • Improved sleep; • Cardiovascular benefits; • Improved appetite; • Dairy Intake;

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YOUR HEALTH • Fall 2011

Special thanks to Francine Malenfant, nocturnal dialysis nurse at The Montreal General Hospital for her precious collaboration.

Sources: "Living with kidney disease", 3rd edition, published

by The Kidney Foundation of Canada, 2000.

FAQs prepared by the staff of the Nocturnal Home Hemodialysis (NHHD) program in Toronto.

Patient Services Summer Camp for Quebec’s Dialysis and Transplant Children The Summer Camp for Dialysis and Transplant Children run by The Kidney Foundation of Canada – Quebec Branch took place from August 6 to 12, 2011.

This year, over fifty children took part. Thanks to a team of medical volunteers from the Sainte-Justine Hospital and the Montreal Children’s Hospital, children got to enjoy a week of holidays while continuing their treatments.

To receive documentation and information about the programs offered by the Quebec Branch of The Kidney Foundation of Canada, refer to the “Patient Programs and Support” and “Organ Donation” sections of our Web site at www.kidney.ca/quebec, or contact: Hélène Boisvert, Programs Director The Kidney Foundation of Canada – Quebec Branch 2300 René-Lévesque Blvd West Montreal, Quebec H3H 2R5 Tel.: 514-938-4515, ext. 224, or 1-800-565-4515 E-mail: helene.boisvert@kidney.ca

The camp was made possible thanks to a contribution of the Laval Police through the annual Spaghetti Day. We would also like to thank TELUS for sponsoring the art therapy workshop, which kicked off the camp and was one of the kids’ favourites.

Scholarships The Kidney Foundation of Canada’s scholarship program was created to provide financial support to people on dialysis and kidney transplant recipients pursuing college and university studies. The application deadline for the winter session is January 30, 2012.

“Dream Trip” to Disney World in Florida for dialysis and transplant children from Quebec Again this year, The Kidney Foundation of Canada – Quebec Branch was chosen to take part in the “Dream Trip” activity. Four children, two from the Sainte-Justine Hospital Centre and two from the Montreal Children’s Hospital, will take part in this activity at Walt Disney World in Florida. The trip will take place in November 2011. It is important to point out that the activity is organized by volunteers from Air Canada.

The foundation of kidney care

Kidney-Link • Fall 2011

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Organ Donation 2011 “Gift of Life” Humanitarian Award The Kidney Foundation of Canada – Quebec Branch is pleased to confer the 2011 “Gift of Life” Humanitarian Award on B F I U si ne d e Tr ia ge L ach en ai e L té e.

This award is the Foundation’s way of recognizing the company’s humanitarian efforts, which greatly helped Pierre L’Heureux

donate a kidney to his daughter Aryelle.

More than a mere distinction, the award seeks to raise awareness among Quebec businesses about the importance of supporting their employees during the kidney donation or transplant process.

The Foundation would like to congratulate the other businesses that vied for the 2011 “Gift of Life” Humanitarian Award: Commission scolaire de Laval (École Polymécanique de Laval); Conway Jacques courtiers d’assurances inc.; Desjardins Financial Security; Grossesse-Secours; Transcontinental Media; Xstrata Copper, Horne foundry.

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Kidney-Link • Fall 2011

From left to right: Hector Chamberland, Business Development Director at BFI Usine de Triage Lachenaie Ltée; Pierre L’Heureux, a BFI Usine de Triage Lachenaie Ltée employee, and his daughter Aryelle; Claude Proulx, Chairman of The Kidney Foundation of Canada’s Organ Donation Public Awareness Committee.

The Canadian Organ Donors Association The Canadian Organ Donors Association (CODA) Gala will be held in Sherbrooke on Friday, October 21, in conjunction with The Kidney Foundation of Canada. The event will honour the memory of those who donated their organs posthumously. It will also serve as an opportunity to underscore the altruism of living donors.

Together we can make a difference

Research Understanding where genes go wrong in kidney disease Wilms’ tumour is a type of kidney cancer that affects 1 in 10,000 children under the age of four. Dr. Sunny Hartwig and her team are trying to understand at a genetic level how and why this cancer develops, with the hope of one day reversing it.

Dr. Sunny Hartwig is an assistant professor in the department of Biomedical Sciences at the Atlantic Veterinary College in Prince Edward Island. She earned her PhD at Sick Children’s Hospital in Toronto and completed her post-doctoral work at Harvard Medical School and Children’s Hospital Boston.

Since 2006, Dr. Sunny Hartwig has been funded by The Kidney Foundation of Canada’s KRESCENT Program which she describes as “truly transformative’’, particularly “the outstanding mentorship from world leaders in the field who give so much of themselves to help you on your way”.

Inspired by her mentor, Dr. Norman Rosenblum, and the challenge to ‘imagine every sick kid, healthy’, Sunny is studying “nephron progenitor ‘stem’ cells that differentiate into the 20 plus cell types of the kidney’s nephrons, which filter blood”.

Dr. Sunny Hartwig is the recipient of a Biomedical Research Grant from the KFOC and a KRESCENT New Investigator Award.

Dr. Hartwig notes that “no one has looked at these [SoxC family of] genes in the kidney before. We’re trying to understand precisely where and when these genes appear during kidney development, and, what their function is”.

Dr. Hartwig is convinced that, “one day we will understand what the key genes are that control kidney development, and what goes wrong when they lose their function during kidney disease… Once we understand the pathogenesis of kidney disease at a molecular or genetic level, we’ll be able to treat and reverse the disease”.

Kidney-Link • Fall 2011

Your donation goes a long way at The Kidney Foundation

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Bulletin Board s of Hope Kidney Storie on, douard Guern

s to E Congratulation s of “Kidney Storie winner of the for Quebec.

Hope” contest s of “Kidney Storie n ia ad an C e h T ple who gn invites peo ai p m ca ” e p o H ease to ced kidney dis have experien . tell their story er rewinners, one p e v fi e th f o h Eac Prairies, Columbia, the sh ti ri B — n io g c Canada ec and Atlanti b e u Q , o ri ta n O Kidrize from The p 0 0 5 $ a d e an — receiv ada thanks to an C f o n io at d n ney Fou ada. from Shire Can t n ra g d e ct ri unrest uching d Guernon’s to r To read Edouar from the othe se o th as ll e w story, as our Web site at winners, visit a. www.kidney.c

Save the date CODA Gala, October 21 ard Founder’s Aw , la a Campaign G November 23

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Kidney-Link • Fall 2011

Hope for a Tr a

On May 15, 20 11, Marie Pier Rouleau took pa rt in The Kidney Foundati on of Canad a “Kidney Walk” so she could share her st ory and help raise public aw areness about organ donatio n. At 21, she is currently awai ting a new kidney after two failed transplants.

nsplant

After an un eventful childhood and ad olescence, an 18-year-old M arie Pier was unexpectedly rushed to Mai sonneuve-Rose mont Hospi- Marie-Pier Roulea u at th tal for in-dep th tests. And Kidney Walk on May 15, e Montreal 2011, sharing within just one her story with other particip year, her kidants. neys deteriora ted drastically , le ading to the fa had terminal re teful diagnosi nal failure, mea s: she ning that her ning at less th kidneys were an 10% of capa fu nctiocity and she w ould require di When she was alysis.

20, she underw ent two transp ther, they faile lants, but one d because of th after anoe size of the ki dneys she rece Since July 20, ived.

2011, she has been back on ney transplant th e w . If and when aiting list for a that third tran kidwill receive a splant comes, smaller kidney M ar ie fr Pi o er m would be com either a woman patible. or a child, whi ch In the meantim e, she underg oes dialysis tr week at the Pi eatments thre erre Legardeu e days a r medical cent re in Lachenaie.

“I want the pu blic to know th at when a tran first time aroun splant doesn’t d, the process work the is long and diff body rejected icult for those the transplant whose ed organ,” sh about her next e said, clearly transplant ope worried ration.

Despite the tr ying times behi nd and ahead de vivre show of her, Marie Pi s on her face, er’s joie an d she knows th news will com at, one day, th e and she’ll fin e good ally be able to other people he lead a normal r age. life like *It’s important to remember th at almost 1,000 awaiting a kidn people in Que ey and the aver bec are age wait time is two years. *Source: Québec-Transp lant

Together we can make a difference

Transplant R e $2,200 for th cipient Raises e Foundation

ada would undation of Can Fo ey dn Ki e Th amondon, e to Hélène Pl ut ib tr y pa to like espite liust 16, 2011. D ug A on ed di e was who ilure since sh fa ey dn ki ith ving w contagious e always had a very young, sh great sense t to mention a love of life, no e determian unshakeabl of humour and f kidney die the cause o rv se to n tio na d others both herself an r fo re ilu fa e seas hen she sease. Even w di e th by ed okesaffect g, she was a sp un yo ry ve ill was st her final Foundation. In person for the r friend he , together with years, she was chitects beu, one of the ar ea nt re Pa e sé Jo undation’s cture of the Fo ru st re e th nd hi e was a ps Chapter. Sh hi ns w To n er East d of direcchapter’s boar at th of r be ember mem r, as well as a m re su ea tr its d tors an d of direcBranch’s boar of the Quebec hope and determination, tors. Hélène’s spire both ill continue to in w t en itm m m co they strive employees as d an rs ee nt lu vo sion. undation’s mis Fo e th e ev hi to ac

PHOTO COUR TESY OF ENBE AUCE.COM

ondon, Hélène Plam lunteer, a devoted vo n has passed o

Pictured here with organize r Denis Jolin, Bernier, Mem Maxime ber of Parliam ent for Beauce companied by , is achis wife and gr andson.

On August 14, 2011, Denis Jolin, who rece ived a kidney 25 years ago, along with family an d friends, organized a ho t dog fundraiser at the Saint-Martin de Beauce fire station to benefit Th e Kidney Foundation o f Canada.

This happy occ asion raised $2,200 in donations which will be used to improve the dayto-day lives of people with kidney disease, fund kidney research and prom ote organ donation.

“The organizatio n is delighted w ith the outcom ryone who cont e and wishes to ributed in som thank evee way to the even not have raised t’s success. And all this money without the su we could and generous do pport of the ev nors,” said Den ent’s sponsors ise Jolin, Denis part in the even ’s twin sister, w t. ho also took Hundreds of pe ople and a grea t many voluntee and took adva rs attended th ntage of a beau e activity tif ul day to genero time to the Foun usly donate mon dation. ey and The surprise vi sit by Maxime Bernier, Federa and Minister of l Member of Pa State for Smal rliament l Business and zers, as it helped Tourism, thrille focus the spotlig d organiht on their even convinced orga t. The day’s su nizers to do it ccess all over again ne xt year.

The Kidney Fo undation of Can ada is proud to sprouting up al see such initiat l over the prov ives in ce, as they en to pursue its m able the Founda ission and, abov tio n e all, to promot light of the fact e organ donatio that almost 1,00 n in 0 people in Que ting a kidney. bec today are aw ai-

n nual Foundatio don at the an on am 11 Pl 20 e , èn 28 ay Hél Val d’Or on M Conference in

Kidney-Link • Fall 2011

Your donation goes a long way at The Kidney Foundation

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The mission of The Kidney Foundation of Canada The Kidney Foundation of Canada is the national volunteer organization committed to lessening the burden of kidney disease through: • funding and stimulating innovative research; • providing education and support; • promoting access to high quality healthcare; and • increasing public awareness and commitment to advancing kidney health and organ donation.

www.kidney.ca/quebec

Quebec Branch 2300 René-Lévesque Blvd West Montreal, Quebec H3H 2R5 Tel.: 514-938-4515 1-800-565-4515 Fax: 514-938-4757 infoquebec@kidney.ca

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Kidney-Link • Fall 2011

Your donation goes a long way at The Kidney Foundation