Kidney Disease Patients Offer Tips on Holiday Planning

HAMILTON, Ontario - Jan. 8, 2014 - PRLog -- “It can be daunting for anyone on dialysis or taking medications after an organ transplant to tackle the challenges of planning a trip away from home,” said Shiona Mackenzie-Morrison, Hamilton Chapter Coordinator of the PKD Foundation of Canada.

“Our meeting in Classroom B of the Juravinski Innovation Tower will give kidney disease patients across southwestern Ontario a chance to learn about the holiday planning process and make it easier to accomplish this goal successfully.”

Mr. Robert Fraser, a Renal Social Worker at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, will launch the meeting at 2pm by providing valuable information about insurance and more.

Kidney disease patients who have enjoyed trips to Cuba and elsewhere will talk about their personal experiences, with open Q&A.

Burlington resident, Ilana, a Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) patient who has had regular dialysis treatments over the past 20 years, said: “I am currently working on my upcoming trip to Mexico. One destination would be all right, but I am planning two destinations this time and organizing the dialysis can be a bit difficult… I will know the ins and outs when I am done and will report on this at the meeting.

“My eldest son, a new father, had to start dialysis treatments last year and is on the transplant waiting list. My hope for his family, and for everyone on dialysis, is that they will quickly discover how not to let kidney disease hold them back from living life to the fullest.”

Open to the public, this free 2-hour event is hosted by the Hamilton Chapter of the PKD Foundation of Canada (PKDFOC). Registration is not required. Local street parking (free) and hospital parking (payment required) is available.

The PKD Foundation of Canada is a registered Canadian non-profit charitable organization dedicated to raising awareness and funds for Canadian kidney disease research. More information is available on the PKDFOC website http://endpkd.ca/chapters/hamilton/ or by calling 1-877-410-1741 toll free.