Happy New Year!

It's a New Year and as a PKD patient, I hold high hopes and dreams of finding better treatments and of course a cure for PKD.  In 2012 PKD patients had some great news. One in particular was the results from the Tolvaptan study.  The study shows that Tolvaptan does in fact slow down the growth of the cysts on our kidneys.

We learned that Drug Repurposing has become a huge part of research for the PKD Foundation.  With our continued fight for a cure through awareness and fundraising, I feel strong that one day soon great things will change this horrific disease affecting PKD patients and their loved ones. As I mentioned in my previous blog, my goal is to share with you anything from the PKD Foundation and any other resources I find.  Julia Roberts and Michelle Karl will also continue in their fight for a cure on the ARKPD side of this disease.  But please do not hesitate to post things on FaceBook and/or let me know in the comments section about things you've heard about or read.

To make things happen like drug repurposing and research, we have a lot of things to do as a chapter and a foundation this year! I am about to embark on the Cocktails for a Cure event and would love to have my volunteers from last year step up and anyone else who would like to become involved in this important fundraiser.  We want it to be bigger and better than last year and I believe whole heartily we can do it!  Let me know if you'd like to be a part by emailing me on FB or at atlantachapter@pkdcure.org.

Karyn Waxman in Memphis who created a very successful annual golf tournament has high hopes of finding a person in the Atlanta area who not only loves to play golf but would like to be involved with a golf tournament!  I can put that person in touch with her also.

Finally, the leadership conference is coming up at the end of February and I'd love to hear about some concerns, questions, ideas and opinions you may feel is important for me as the chapter leader to bring to the forefront at the meeting.  This is the best place for your ideas to be presented so DON'T BE SHY!

Again, Happy New Year and let's do great things together as a chapter and as people who have been affected by PKD far too long!

Marlene Stewart
Chapter Coordinator

PKD-Atlanta Chapter going blogging!

After much thought I felt as the Coordinator of the Atlanta Chapter of the PKD Foundation, the best way to help  Chapter members and hopefully many other PKD Patients, is to begin a blog that can provide information about PKD news, events and articles. You will see that I will refer to the national website in many of these posts as this is truly a great resource to refer to when providing news about PKD.

I realized after the turnout from the last few meetings that even PKD patients are busy with their lives!  We have become such a social media and internet savvy culture that most of the information we retrieve concerning our lives is from the internet including information about our disease. More than ever we turn to and rely on the internet seeking new information and research results about our disease.  It seemed to me that the natural thing to do was follow suit by beginning this blog.

Please feel free to comment on things written here, things that you would like to know. There is an available email here to write me but the best email is atlantachapter@pkdcure.org.  We also have an Atlanta Chapter page on FaceBook so don't forget to "like us" and become our friend.

I look forward to bringing exciting news and fun things to you.

Marlene Stewart
Atlanta Chapter Coordinator - PKD Foundation

Pictured at our 2012 walk from Left to Right: Duluth Mayor Nancy Harris, Walt Hunt, Elizabeth Tuttle (2012 chapter walk coordinator), myself, Dr. Arlene Chapman (one of the top researchers for a cure for PKD) and Julia Roberts (ARKPD Chapter)