Pam Ruben and the Gordon Family:
Pam Ruben's book, Once Upon a Kidney ... (Mike Gordon and his Search for the Perfect Match), offers family-friendly organ transplant & organ donor education to anyone who needs a kidney (or another organ), or has a friend or family member who would like to learn more. The book tells the story of PKD patient Mike Gordon, who needs a new kidney so he can keep up with his smart and silly 8 year old daughter. Through this book, families can follow the real life tale of Mike and his family as they go through the transplant process and search for the perfect match. Ruben and the Gordon family are donating 20 percent of book sales to the PKD Foundation and the remaining proceeds to kidney-related causes. To purchase your copy for $9.95, click here. Discounts are available for multiple books, hospitals and educators. Books can be signed upon request. To learn more, contact Info@pepperypress.com.
Suzanne Ruff and Family:
Suzanne Ruff, a longtime PKD Foundation volunteer, wrote The Reluctant Donor to raise awareness of PKD and organ donation. On the day she found out her younger sister had been stricken by PKD, the same disease that had taken the life of their mother, Suzanne Ruff of Eden Prairie, Minn., offered to donate one of her kidneys to save her sister’s life. During the 10 months that passed between the day that offer was made and the actual surgery, she considered backing out several times, but eventually went through with the surgery. More than five years later, both she and her sister, JoAnn, also an avid PKD Foundation volunteer, are doing great and celebrating the publication of Suzanne’s book about their journey. A portion of the proceeds from The Reluctant Donor (Beaver’s Pond Press, April 2010, $14.95) will go towards kidney disease research. “This story is not so much about me as it is about my mother and her siblings, who taught my sisters and me how to handle this disease. I want anyone who is diagnosed with PKD now to know what it was like, to see how much progress has been made and to have hope,” Ruff said. Ruff's mother and two sisters, as well as several aunts and uncles and cousins have all needed kidney transplants because of PKD. The Reluctant Donor is available for purchase directly through the publisher. Click here to get your copy today. The book can also be purchased at select independent bookstores and at Barnes and Noble, Borders and Amazon.
Valen Cover & Dennis McCloskey
My Favorite American by Dennis McCloskey tells the true story of Pennsylvania PKD patient and former Chapter and Walk Coordinator Valen Cover. Valen was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease (PKD) at the age of 10 and had a kidney transplant at 19. In addition to PKD, Valen, who is now 26, has fought against pancreatitis, scoliosis and seizures, at times, spending more time in the hospital than at home. Over the years, Valen has undergone multiple surgeries and medical procedures to address one problem after another. Finally, today, she is a woman of incredible inner strength and courage. One acquaintance commented: "You will not leave her presence without knowing her gift." While promoting My Favorite American in both the United States and Canada, Valen has been committed to raising awareness of PKD and the PKD Foundation. Dennis, Valen and their publisher also donate a large number of copies of their book to PKD patients and organizations, doctors, nurses, churches, dialysis units, and also celebrities who can help make a difference by getting the PKD message out to the masses. To purchase My Favorite American from Amazon, click here.
Rosann Argenti
Rosann Argenti, a PKD patient, wrote Surgery - How to Rehearse Before You See the Nurse to guide and support readers through the processes of educating themselves about their condition, finding the right surgeon, preparing for their surgery both mentally and physically, organizing their hospital stay and planning their post-operative care. Twenty percent of the book proceeds will benefit the PKD Foundation. Rosann’s book is available for $16.99 on the Practical Surgery Guide website. You can also learn more about Rosann's experiences with PKD and her book by reading this full-length feature article.
Jesse Brewster
PKD patient Jesse Brewster has released his second CD, “Jesse Brewster Band,” as part of efforts to raise awareness of PKD and drum up funds for vital PKD research. A portion of the CD sales will benefit the PKD Foundation. Proceeds from Jesse’s first album, “Confessional,” also helped fund PKD research. “I produced this record because I felt that I could educate people about PKD as well as raise money in the process by using music as an educational tool,” Jesse said on his website. “This illness has affected my life profoundly, as it has millions of others.” Jesse lost his brother, Jim, to PKD in 1998 and watched his father battle complications of the disease for years. For more information and to purchase your own copies of "Jesse Brewster Band" and "Confessional," visit the official Jesse Brewster website.
Elizabeth Bruening Lewis
Get ready for another story of adventure and sleuthing, intertwined with historical detail and environmental reflections in the latest Abby Taylor book: “Deadly Deception in Arizona.” Award-winning author Elizabeth Bruening Lewis, daughter of PKD Foundation co-founder Joe Bruening, weaves a story of exploration and suspense as her heroine, Abby Taylor, uncovers another mystery, while dealing with the challenges of polycystic kidney disease. Other titles in the Abby Taylor series include “To Live or Die In Arizona” and “Dry Death in Arizona.” A portion of the proceeds from all the Abby Taylor series novels go to the PKD Foundation. Copies of these books are available from the PKD Foundation for $10 each. To get your copy, email pkdcure@pkdcure.org.
Scott Donahue
Scott Donahue is the author of the book, "Walt Disney World Peak Seasons: Maximizing your Disney Vacation," which is dedicated to his 8-year-old daughter, Peyton, who was born with PKD. This book provides valuable touring and planning tips for a vacation to Walt Disney World. Sure you can "play it by ear" when you get to the parks. Sure you can "make it up as you go." However, if you want to maximize your time and still experience all of the magic that Disney has to offer, this step-by-step guide will help you to navigate the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Disney-MGM Studios. By purchasing this book, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the PKD Foundation in Peyton's name. "Walt Disney World Peak Seasons: Maximizing your Disney Vacation" is available for purchase at http://www.wdwpeakseasons.com/.
Howard Parker
Howard Parker and his band, The HOT Take-out Band, have been using their talent to help raise awareness of PKD. The band has performed at various Walk for PKD events and is planning on doing more in the future. Howard first found out about PKD when a close family member was diagnosed with the disease. Since then, he and his wife, Julia, have been active members and supporters of the PKD Foundation. Howard has decided to use his band’s new CD, "Truth Be Told," to help contribute to the fight against PKD. He will donate all of the profits from the CD to the PKD Foundation. Order The HOT Take-out Band’s new CD!
L. Roland
L. Roland is the author of "The Stranger Who Was Me," a 411-page human interest story based, in part, on actual events of an 11-year-old boy and his effort to survive and become a man as he struggles with PKD. The fast-paced, compelling story has received many letters of appreciation from PKD patients. A portion of proceeds from "The Stranger Who Was Me" generated by visits to the PKD Foundation website will be donated by the author to PKD Foundation programs of research and patient education. To learn more and purchase a copy of the book, visit http://www.pricerightsales.com/.
If you are an author, musician or other artist interested in donating a portion of your proceeds to the PKD Foundation's programs of PKD research and patient education, please contact Allison Bogart at allisonb@pkdcure.org or 1-800-PKD-CURE.