Thank you for being part of our Kidney Companions community.

Here we will provide updates, highlight the people within Kidney Companions, and share stories and actions you can take in a broader community.

Walking with Kidney Companions has been a hit. We have been gathering twice a week (Tuesdays at 9:15 am and Wednesdays at 11 am) for a casual stroll, enjoying fresh air and pleasant company. All are welcome of all abilities. Email molly@kidneycompanions.org to let us know if you would ever like to join us.

We also are eagerly waiting with some on the transplant list and learning & navigating health systems with others.

Join us outside in the Commons!

On the second Thursday of each month, we gather for all who are interested in learning about Kidney Companions. We will always have an existing volunteer there for you to ask questions and listen to their experience. This is a great time to explore your interest in becoming a volunteer or invite someone who you think would be interested.

Our next gathering will be:

Thursday, June 13th

5-7 at a picnic table in the Commons (by the bocce ball courts)

806 Red Dr Suite #100, Traverse City, MI 49684

This is the address of Left Foot Charlie, which is across from the bocce ball courts

Looking ahead in 2024 tentative locations for Convos with Kidney Companions:

• July 11: same as June, picnic table in the Commons by the bocce ball courts in front of Left Foot Charlie & Higher Grounds, with Left Foot Charlie or Earthen Ales as a backup for rain

• Aug 8: same as June

• Sep 12: Silver Spruce

• Oct 10: Silver Spruce

• Nov 14: Silver Spruce

• Dec 12: Silver Spruce

In late May, more stunning results were published with respect to kidney disease treatments. Data were presented at the European Renal Association and simultaneously published in the New England Journal of Medicine describing profound benefits for kidney disease from the drug Semaglutide (also known as Ozempic when used for diabetes or Wegovy when used for weight loss). Whereas kidney disease has historically been under-represented in clinical trials and we have had limited treatment options, this study with Semaglutide now establishes a fourth drug class as a pillar of treatment for many common kidney diseases (with the other pillars of treatments being renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) blockers, sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, and finerenone). Amazingly, three of these four drug classes are newly established for the treatment of kidney disease in the past 5 years, and they truly represent a revolution in the way we think about kidney disease. As we seek to enhance access to kidney transplants in Northern Michigan, we are also fortunate to live in a time when so many advances are being made to prevent and slow the development of kidney failure altogether. 

Separately, 1A had an interesting episode related to the ethics of organ donation/transplants, in particular the last 15 minutes (starting at 30 minutes into the episode) Dr. Rosas of National Kidney Foundation spoke of the challenges of who gets onto the transplant waitlist as well access to therapies of kidney disease.

Here is a link to that episode