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Wednesday, December 11, 2013

The Youth of PKD





The PKD Foundation's website is such a great tool and is the source of many of my blogs. There's information about the disease itself, research being done, news about and from the PKD Foundation, where to look for doctors, how you can volunteer etc.  As a chapter coordinator I try and go to the website several times a week just to navigate around the site and make sure I'm up to date and turning out great news from the foundation to the Atlanta chapter.

I may not be able to surf the entire website each time but I always make sure I read "Voices of PKD,"  which is always so inspiring!  The featured story currently on "Voices of PKD" is about a young girl named Kerilyn.

 Kerilyn was diagnosed with PKD at age 13.  Her story talks about the abrupt changes she had to mak in her lifestyle. She no longer could do what "normal" teens do at age 13. Mostly she no longer could play the sports she so dearly loved. Kerilyn decided to make the most of her situation and as you read her story, you'll learn about a young lady who made great choices and decisions after being diagnosed!

A youth with PKD faces different challenges than an adult with PKD. Living with PKD as a teen makes those challenges even more difficult.  I urge young people with PKD to read Kerilyn's story and reach out to their peers through the foundation.  They will find life long friends who understand and support you and you'll do the same for them!

I don't know Kerilyn but after reading her story, I was so proud of her.


Click here to read Kerilyn's Story.

To find people to connect with, please contact the PKD Foundation at 1.800.pkdcure or visit the website at:

www.pkdcure.org.

Marlene Stewart
PKD Foundation-Atlanta Chapter Coordinator