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Why We Walk…
Gage and Quinn had a fabulous time on Gage's Make-A-Wish trip to NYC! Fabulous! We have memories that will be with us forever (this picture is at next to Lady Liberty!)...the Macy's Day Parade, Lion King on Broadway, The Empire State Building, Shopping, and the awesome day we spent at the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
But I would give all of those memories up if I could take away their ARPKD. In a New York second.
That's not our reality though and like two years ago when we were facing Gage's transplant, we just went through Quinnlin's. Our friend, Cheryl donated her gently used kidney to Quinn on September 29th (Quinn's Birthday!), and so far, so good. The kidney is working great.
And a transplant will mean she won't have to go on dialysis like Gage did. We're hopeful that we can side-step dialysis this time, but what about next time? Gage and Quinn will need more than one transplant to live an average life-span. It's true what they say; that getting a new kidney is the "gift of life" and it is - but it still comes with challenges. Twice daily medication, numerous doctor visits and lifelong monitoring. We gladly take the gift of life over dialysis, anyday.
But imagine if we could have slowed or stopped the cyst growth altogether? There are clinical trials being conducted RIGHT NOW with medicine that does just that. Sure, it's testing on adults right now but one day I know that the medicine will filter down to kids. Kids just like Gage and Quinn.
The only way to do that is to continue to fund research. That is why we walk the walk at the Walk for PKD with our family and friends. Every year, and this is our 8th, we get together on one day on behalf of two cute kids (seriously cute!) and raise money for research.
And every year our friends come out to support us with their money, their time and their talents. Last year alone, Gage & Quinn's Team rasied over $21,000.
See what one motivated family can do? And see what the people that care about them can do?
We hope you will join us at the Walk for PKD – the PKD Foundation’s signature fundraising event - or make a donation to our team and help us support the fight against polycystic kidney disease!
We're asking each adult team member to think about a 20/20 Vision for a Cure! Register for free! And then ask 20 people for $20. Simple! We're asking for kids to ask 10 people for $10! If everyone on our team does that this year, we could raise an additional $20,000! Making our team total $40,000!
For those team members that do hit the adult $400 and kid $100 goal...special surprises await you!
If you need our story in a PDF to make it easier to ask for a donation, just email me at julia@robertsresource.com - a PDF with a few pictures and how we learned about PKD and how it affects our life. If you need me to come and speak to a group (civic, church, work, dinner party?), I'd be happy to - it'll be my way of thanking you for reaching out to your 20 people!
For updates on Gage and Quinn visit www.kidneysandeyes.com
Just the Facts!
Polycystic kidney disease is one of the most common life-threatening genetic diseases, affecting more people that Down syndrome, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy and sickle cell anemia - combined. Currently there is no treatment and no cure… But there is hope.
The PKD Foundation is here to ensure that someday, no one suffers the full effects of PKD.
And it is your financial support that makes this all possible. Please help me make a difference by making a donation or joining our team to fundraise beside us, today!
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