kidney link spring 2014

Kidney LinkSpring 2014 The Kidney Foundation of Canada – Quebec Branch

The foundation of kidney care

Message from the Executive Director and the President .. 2

The 2014 Walk ............................................................ 3

Fifty years of volunteering ........................................... 6

News from the Chapters............................................... 7

Organ donation ............................................................ 8

Research .................................................................... 10

Patient Services .......................................................... 11

The Foundation is pursuing its campaign to raisethe number of kidney transplants performed inQuebec to 350 by 2017, and its efforts are alreadypaying off. More on page 9

The Foundation’s efforts to increase the number of kidney transplants are already paying off

On the occasion of the Foundation’s 50th anni-versary, we pay a special tribute to our volunteers.Thanks to their involvement, the Foundationcan pursue its mission to improve the lives ofpeople suffering from kidney disease, promoteorgan donation and fund research.

More on page 6

Fifty years of volunteering

On May 25, The Walk is back!The annual Kidney Walk is set to take place in 16 cities across Quebec on May 25, 2014. Thisoutstanding event gives voice to all those volun-teers who promote the fight against kidney

disease. Each in their own way, they share theirexperiences of kidney disease and transplantation.The Foundation is very grateful for their involve-ment in this year’s Kidney Walk More on page 3

Not only wil l thecar you donate betowed away for free,but you’ll also get atax receipt from theFoundation. More on page 11

Jacques Duval, Kidney CarProgram spokesman

It’s for a good cause!

Bern

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Brau

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The Kidney WalkOF THE KIDNEY FOUNDATION OF CANADA

Ever consider donating a car to the Foundation?

Together we can make a difference

Our organization has been around for 50 years and in that time, successive generations of volunteers and staffhave tried to make their team efforts lessen the burden of kidney failure on patients, their loved ones and society as a whole. We do not work in a vacuum. Our successes are often the product of teamwork and factorssuch as the structure of the healthcare system, public investment in health, advances in research, demographicsand the economy, all of which can have a positive or negative impact on the burden of kidney disease.

The kidney transplant waiting list got shorter in 2013

The Foundation’s Organ and Tissue Donation Committee launched a major campaign to convince theGovernment of Quebec to adopt several measures aimed at increasing the number of kidney transplantsperformed each year to 350 from the current 250. In 2013, the Foundation submitted a report to Quebec’sMinister of Health and Social Services. The report contained six recommendations on how to better structurethe healthcare system in order to promote the transplantation of organs from both deceased and livingdonors. With the help of spokespeople Hélène Héroux and Gaétan Frigon, we held a media tour to promoteliving donation. We were clearly in the public eye as we appealed to the decision-makers in defence ofpatients’ interests. As a number of our recommendations are being implemented, Dr. Michel Pâquet, Chairmanof the Organ and Tissue Donation Committee, with our help, is drafting a reference document that will be usedto continue the successes achieved by CHUM in the area of living donor kidney transplants.

In addition to these developments, we wish to point out that the number of deceased-donor transplants hitan all-time high in 2013 and that, for the first time in years, the number of people on the kidney transplantwaiting list actually decreased.

Improving dialysis in Quebec

Encouraged by advances in the field of kidney transplantation, the Foundation set up a working group toidentify the issues surrounding dialysis in Quebec in order to develop an action plan aimed at providingpatients with quality treatments at home or nearby.

Raising public awareness about kidney health

Over half a million people in Quebec have kidney disease, but a majority of them are unaware of it. Lack ofawareness of their health status can influence the progression of the disease and their overall condition. Forthat reason, the Foundation dedicates energy and resources to better informing Quebecers and encouragingthem to pay more attention to their kidney health. To do so, we launched a new online self-evaluation toolfor kidney health, readily available to everyone (http://www.kidney.ca/RiskAssessment). We also take ourkidney health clinics for at-risk populations to public spaces and workplaces, where people can meet withnurses to have their blood pressure and glucose level measured.

The Kidney Walk

Of all fundraising activities organized by The Kidney Foundation of Canada, The KidneyWalk has grown the most. The Walk is a perfect opportunity for patients, their lovedones and health professionals to come together in an activity that raises publicawareness of our cause and the associated challenges. In 2014, the number of Walkswill rise from 9 to 16.

Present throughout Quebec

To deliver patient services, raise public awareness and promote organ donation,seven chapters provide a presence for the Foundation in their respective regions.Yet even that that is not enough. We are working hard to launch new chapters so thatthe Foundation might one day span the entire province. In fact, two new chapters willopen in 2014.

Research

Last year, the Quebec Branch contributed nearly $1 million to research and nationalprograms. Research helps reduce the impact of kidney disease by improving treatmentswhile generating concrete benefits for patients. The Quebec Branch’s contribution,together with those of the other branches, has enabled the Foundation to invest over$110 million in research since it was created 50 years ago.

Playing a key role in patient well-being

The combined efforts of volunteers and donors throughout Quebec, supported by asmall team of skilled and dedicated employees, have enabled the Foundation to fundpromising research initiatives, provide patients with better service, raise our cause’sprofile with the general public and government, and secure funding from tens ofthousands of donors and businesses.2 Kidney Link • Spring 2014

Message from the Executive Director and the President

Securing concrete results for patients

Christopher GobeilNational President

Martin Munger Executive Director

The personal information youhave provided is used only to sendyou this newsletter. To stop recei-ving it, please e-mail us at [email protected] or call us at514-938-4515.

Readers: You can help enrich ournewsletter by sharing your expe-riences with kidney disease or kid-ney transplantation. Please send atext of no more than 300 words,along with a high-resolution photo,to [email protected].

COORDINATION AND WRITINGAntoine Ardiley

GRAPHICS AND PUBLISHINGArdecom

PRODUCTION Ardecom

CONTACT US: The Kidney Foundation of Canada –Quebec Branch2300 René-Lévesque Blvd West,Montreal, QC H3H 2R5

TELEPHONE 514-938-4515 or 1-800-565-4515

FAX 514-938-4757

E-MAIL [email protected]

Circulation: 10,000 copies

The Kidney Link newsletter andYour Health insert are publishedthree times a year by the QuebecBranch of The Kidney Foundationof Canada. Distributed in Englishand French to all people sufferingfrom k idney fa i lure, thesepublications provide valuableinformation on the Foundation’sservices and activities, includingthe latest findings on kidneydisease and organ donation.

The opinions expressed in KidneyLink and Your Health do notnecessarily reflect those of theQuebec Branch of The KidneyFoundation of Canada, its directors,employees or members.

Moving? Please let us know at [email protected].

Articles may be reproducedprovided that the source is quoted.

Your donation goes a long way at The Kidney Foundation

Kidney Link • Spring 2014 3

Sylvie Lefebvre (Gatineau)

“Team Lefebvre” at the Gatineau Kidney Walk in 2013

“This year, The Kidney Walk will have a special meaning forthe Lefebvre family,” explained Sylvie Lefebvre, who just losther father, Claude, only a few weeks ago following a battlewith terminal kidney failure.

“Our father started having complications due to kidney failurein 2004,” she said. In the past 10 years, he had two kidneytransplants. In 2007, his younger sister gave him one of herkidneys. “That first transplant was a true gift of life,” saidSylvie. Unfortunately, due to complications, he had to go backon dialysis after only nine months. In 2011, he was given asecond chance when a kidney from an anonymous donorbecame available. Thanks to thrice-weekly plasmapheresistreatments to keep antibodies from attacking the donor kidney,the graft served him well until March 2014.

“In the last 10 years, we supported him through the ups anddowns of his kidney disease,” said Sylvie, who will be takingpart in The Kidney Walk with her family and friends for thefourth year in a row in honour of her father, Claude Lefebvre.“We’ll take part in The Walk forever, because it was impor-tant to our dad,” she added. Sylvie promotes organ donationby encouraging people to sign their health insurance card andsupport those with kidney disease.

Claire Lacaille (Maniwaki)Claire Lacaille knows all aboutkidney disease, having spentthe past three years at the sideof her husband, Michel Roy,who suffers from granulomato-sis with polyangiitis. Formerlyknown as Wegener’s granulo-matosis, the disease first at-tacks the blood vessels andthen vital organs such as thekidneys.

On March 27, 2011, Michelwasn’t feeling well. He hadlost his appetite, felt very weakand was unable to urinate. Heand his wife Claire decided to

go emergency at Maniwaki Hospital, and he was later transferredto Hull Hospital for more exams. The next day, the diagnosis wasin and Michel was immediately put on dialysis. From thatpoint on, he underwent dialysis at Maniwaki Hospital threetimes a week.

Early this year, some good news finally arrived. Michel was puton peritoneal dialysis at home in February, which was a majorrelief for both him and Claire. They naturally considered akidney transplant, but because Michel has had cancer twice, hehas to wait nearly two years before being put on the transplantwaiting list.

“I had no idea so many people had kidney disease,” admittedClaire, who now wants to get involved with the Foundation, notjust because of what Michel has gone through, but also becauseshe wants to help children with the disease.

Claire, who is president of the Aumond Optimist Club for youth,believes that no child should have to suffer.

She is organizing the Maniwaki Kidney Walk, to be held on May25, 2014. She and her committee hope to raise $5,000 and tosee at least 50 people turn out to walk The Walk in Maniwaki.“I’m pretty sure we’ll reach our goal,” said Claire, who wants toraise as much money as possible for kidney research.

Walking The Walk in 16 cities in QuebecDolbeauDollard-des-OrmeauxGatineauJolietteSaint-Bruno (Longueuil agglomeration)Maniwaki Montreal Quebec City

Rouyn-NorandaSaguenaySaint-Georges de BeauceSaint-Jean-sur-RichelieuSaint-JérômeSherbrookeTrois-Rivières

Register by going to kidney.ca/quebecwalk

Also, the Tour de rein cycling event will be held in Laval on May 24.

Claire Lacaille, organizer of The Kidney Walk in Maniwki


The 2014 Kidney Walk

4 Kidney Link • Spring 2014

Christina Tanguay-Dumas (Quebec)

After my husband was diag-nosed with kidney failure, Idecided to get involved withThe Kidney Foundation ofCanada. That was nearly twoyears ago. Today, I am amember of the Walk Com-mittee and I sit on the Boardof Directors.

Your participation has a real impact

I encourage you to take partin your region’s Kidney Walkon May 25, 2014. By partici-pating, you’ll have an impactin many areas. You’ll helpraise public awareness of kid-ney failure, highlight the im-portance of organ donationand raise funds to support

research that will ultimately lead to better quality of life forpeople with kidney failure.

The people who take part all have one thing in common: they orsomeone they know and love has been affected by kidneyfailure. That’s why a shared sense of belonging energizes Walkparticipants, who feel as though they are part of a huge family.People interacting, cooperating, supporting each other with asmile on their face—this is the way things get done!

The Kidney Walk: fun for the whole family!

Running around in our daily lives, most of us probably wish wecould spend more time with the people we love. The Walk is aperfect opportunity to get together with family and friends andshare some great moments. You can even use the occasion togo on a picnic or have dinner with the people you love.

Special moments are meant to be shared with family, becausethey’re the ones who are there for us when we need support.

Have a good Walk! We look forward to seeing you in QuebecCity!

Sylvie Charbonneau (Montreal)In December 2012, Sylviegave her son Benoît the bestChristmas gift ever: she gavehim life by donating one ofher kidneys to him.

At 27, Benoît found out thathe suffered from a form ofdegenerative kidney diseaseand that his renal functionwas at 25% of normal. Onlytwo years later, it was downto 15%, edging ever closerto the 10% level that wouldinevitably mean dialysis.

In the meantime, Sylvie hadseen a report on organ dona-tion and was ready to give

Benoît a kidney. Sylvie and her husband are both compatiblepotential donors for their son, so they decided that they wouldboth undergo the evaluation tests, which started in late summer2011 and lasted a year. In the end, Sylvie’s kidneys were foundto be healthier than her husband’s, so it was decided that shewould be the one to donate a kidney to their son.

The operation was scheduled for December 2012. Sylvieconfessed to being petrified of falling ill in the three monthsleading up to the operation, as the slightest illness wouldhave disqualified her from donating.

But that did not happen: the surgery was a success and wouldbe remembered by Sylvie as the happiest day of her life. Shehad just given a new lease on life to her son, who is set tobecome a father in late 2014. After the operation, Benoît’sgreatest joy was to be able to drink apple juice, a pleasuredenied him over the years because of his failing kidneys.

President and cofounder of change-management firm BrioConseils and professor at HEC Montréal, Sylvie Charbonneaufirst got involved with The Kidney Walk last year. “Life’s beenvery good to me, so it’s only natural that I pay it forward byhelping thousands of people suffering from kidney diseaseregain their health,” said Sylvie, who feels that more peopleneed to know about the Foundation.

She has set herself a personal fundraising goal of $3,000 andwants her team to raise $10,000. These are ambitious goals, butas Sylvie puts it, “The Walk is an important source of funding,and it’s thanks to the research the Foundation supports that myson is here today,” said Sylvie, who admits getting a kick out ofasking businesses to support The Kidney Walk.

Sylvie Charbonneau donated oneof her kidneys to her son Benoît

Christina Tanguay-Dumas, member of the Quebec City Walk Committee and the Quebec City Chapter Board of Directors



Véronique Fournier (Saint-Jérôme)April 11, 2014, will markthe 6th ann iversaryof Véronique Fournier’stransplant. A nurse in theHemodialysis Departmentat Saint Jérôme’s HôpitalHôtel-Dieu, Véroniquesuffered from congenitalnephropathy, althoughher i l lness was notdetected until 2005,when she was 18. Afterundergoing constraininghemodialysis treatmentsfor three years at Hôtel-Dieu, her father donatedone of his kidneys to her.

In Véronique’s words, the transplant, performed at RoyalVictoria Hospital on April 11, 2008, was “the gift of life.”

Thanks to her new kidney, Véronique and her husband DavidLéveillé were able to have little Jenny, who is now two and a halfyears old. In fact, Jenny is the third baby born to a mother whohad a kidney transplant at Montreal’s Royal Victoria Hospital.“It’s a wonderful chapter in my life story,” said Véronique.

To raise awareness of the benefits of organ donation, Véroniqueproduced a video entitled Sensibilisation au don d’organes,2014, which is available on YouTube. “When I was sick, I had alot of support, so it only makes sense to give back,” saidVéronique, who is the Honorary Chair of this year’s Kidney Walkin Saint-Jérôme. Through her involvement, she hopes to informthe public about organ donation and dispel the myths thatsurround it. She and the entire organizing team hope to raise$5,000 and attract over 200 walkers to the event.

Lyne Cartier (Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu)

For the second time, Lyne Cartierwill be organizing the Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Kidney Walk to beheld May 25.

Lyne is all too familiar with theeffects of kidney disease, which iswhat led her to organize the firstWalk there in 2013. Her motherpassed away in 2000 after suffer-ing from kidney failure for sevenyears, and her daughter, 29, hashad kidney problems since shewas only six months old.

Her experience with the diseasepushed her to act. After participat-ing in the Montreal Kidney Walk afew times, Lyne approached the

Foundation with the idea of holding a Walk on the South Shore,which she thought would benefit area patients. At last year’sevent, the area’s first, Lyne and all the volunteers raised nearly$5,000.

For the second edition of the St-Jean-sur-Richelieu Walk, Lyneput her experience organizing events to good use to do evenbetter and reach her $8,000 target.

“The Kidney Walk is a unique opportunity to make people fromthe region aware of the realities of kidney disease. And it’s alsoan important boost for doctors, patients and their families,” saidLyne, who hopes to reach out to as many people as possible tohelp make sure kidney research is properly funded.

The five-kilometre Walk will be held on the athletics track at theCanadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School (CFLRS) inSaint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. Participants are asked to arrive at9 a.m. And naturally, registration is free!

Put a team together and walk with us on May 25!

Register by going to kidney.ca/quebecwalk1. Select the city where you would like to walk2. Register3. Start raising funds4. Meet up, come walk and get set for an unforgettableday with friends and loved ones

Support kidney healthand organ donation

Lyne Cartier, organizer of the Saint-Jean-sur-RichelieuWalk

Véronique Fournier, Honorary Chairof the Saint-Jérôme Kidney Walk,with her daughter Jenny, age 2½

We're behind you all the way


Fiy years of volunteeringBy the Kidney Foundation of Canada – Quebec Branch Volunteer Resource Committee

• Solicit individual donations from your friends, loved ones,coworkers and connections. There is no minimum individualamount to raise, but last year, participants raised an averageof $250 each.

• You can also organize a gathering or special event, adding theproceeds to your personal Kidney Walk target.

• Encourage the members of your team (be it a two- or three-person team, family or group) to use these simple andeffective means to reach the objective you have set.

• The important thing is to state clearly why you plan to attendthis year’s Kidney Walk. By expressing your enthusiasm forthe Foundation’s cause, you will rally others to your side.

Let’s make The Kidney Walk a huge success Here are a few simple ways to raise funds for The Kidney Walk:

When The Kidney Foundation of Canada was created in1964, its small group of founders knew all too well

that they had their work cut out for them because of theirlack of human and financial resources. Back then, theyweren’t called volunteers like the thousands of people whofollowed in their tracks; they were called visionaries. Butvolunteering was now the way forward.

Without the volunteers’ conviction that kidney diseaseneeded to become an ongoing concern, today’s kidney pa-tients would probably not enjoy the many benefits result-ing from research and well-developed patient services.

In their small way, these founders set out on a missionto mobilize a core group of volunteers who would laythe foundations of what would eventually become theorganization we know today. And now more than ever,this same motivation drives us to go even farther to widenour network of people who give generously of their time,ideas and initiatives, while giving us access to theirpersonal and professional connections in order to helpus achieve our fundraising goals.

Recruiting volunteers and keeping them involved with theFoundation are two recurring challenges we face each year.

The quality of care and treatments is such that, today,more and more patients and their loved ones join ourranks as volunteers. In addition to their daily contributions,they subtly bring us back to what is essential—strivingfor a better world for kidney and dialysis patients, andtransplant recipients.

The Foundation is slowly but surely reaching more andmore of Quebec, so that volunteers can reach out withintheir respective parts of the province to spread the word,raise funds and ensure their chapter’s longevity by activelyrecruiting other volunteers to take the reins when the timecomes. And on it goes…

For 50 years now, our many volunteers have made theirmark on the Foundation’s history. Wherever possible, theFoundation has fostered involvement by volunteers wherethey can achieve personal fulfilment and, if they so wish,grow as part of a group. And no task is too small or toogreat.

On behalf of all kidney patients, may our volunteers past,present and future accept our humble appreciation and ourexpression of sincere gratitude and recognition!

Presidents of the Quebec Branch ofThe Kidney Foundation of Canada

since it was founded in 1964Arthur Boidman (Founding President) 1964 Harold W. Ashenmil 1969-1970Charles Roth 1970-1971David Ornstein 1971-1974Louis Lapierre 1976-1978Jean-Jacques Bégin 1980-1982Claude Maillet 1982-1985Raymond Girard 1985-1987Mark Tourangeau 1987-1989Denis Marquis 1989-1990

Sylvain Thibault 1990-1993Clément Lemieux 1993-1995Jean Rousselle 1995-1998Danielle Poulin 1998-2000Patrice Waché 2000-2002Michel Perron 2002-2004Denis Marquis 2004-2006Claude Pigeon 2006-2009Alain Ouimet 2009-2011Christopher Gobeil 2011-2014

At the annual meeting of the Outaouais Chapter heldMarch 9, members of the Foundation gathered to discusswhat lies ahead and the activities planned for 2014. Itwas the perfect opportunity to introduce members tothe action plan for kidney disease prevention and raiseawareness of organ donation in the region.

Richard M. LeBlanc was elected President of theOutaouais Chapter for the coming year. He will be assistedin his mandate by the other members of the Board: JoanneAnka, Laureen Bureau, Joanne Godbout, Francine Houleand Jean Simon Leblanc.

Chapter priorities for 2014

The Chapter is proud to announce that a second KidneyWalk will be held in the region on May 25 thanks to theefforts of Claire Lacaille and her group of volunteers. Theevent will take place in Maniwaki and host many partici-pants from the nearby Algonquin community of Kitigan Zibi.

The Aimé-Charon Golf Tourna-ment benefitting the Foundationis back for its 20th year. Joinus on June 5 at Club de golfHéritage in Notre-Dame-de-la-Paix.Again this year, our membersplan to attend all the majorregional events and set upstands to encourage preventionand promote organ donation.We will also continue to holdour public awareness talks onthe importance of organ donation. We expect to hold tenor so talks this year. We wish to thank Laureen Bureau forher involvement and enthusiasm in making this importantpart of our mission a reality.

The foundation of kidney care


GATINEAUA new president for the Outaouais Chapter

Upcoming

golftournaments

Mark Your Calendar June 5 - Aimé-Charron Golf Tournament organizedby the Outaouais Chapter and held at Club de golfHéritage in Notre-Dame-de-la-Paix (for information,contact Bruno Tousignant at 819-661-5079)

June 6 - Cunningham’s Golf Tournament at Hudson’s Falcon Golf Club (for information, contact Meskerem Berhanu at 514 938-4515,ext. 229)

June 13 - Quebec City Chapter Golf Tournament(for information, contact Maryse Néron at 418-683-1449)

September 15 - Founder’s Award Campaign GolfClassic (for information, contact MeskeremBerhanu at 514 938-4515, ext. 229)

Patients at Hôtel-Dieu in Lévis can now attend groupcooking classes. This all-new activity coordinated bythe Foundation will work with recipes from the KidneyCommunity Kitchen website and the cookbook series,Spice It Up! Giving Zest to Your Renal Diet.

Upcoming classes take place on May 28 and June 18 from1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at La Chaudronnée, 4 Charles RodrigueStreet, Lévis, G6V 6L8.

For more information, go to www.chaudronnee.org. To register, contact Maryse Néron at 418-683-1449 or [email protected].

QUEBEC CITY Group cooking classes for patients ofLévis’ Hôtel-Dieu hospital

News from the Chapters

Richard M. LeBlanc, President of the Outaouais Chapter



More than 500 people received a transplant in 2013 and the number of patients on the waiting list for a transplantation decreased by 15%, marking the first decrease in eight years!By Transplant Québec

Organ Donation

In 2013, some 503 people benefitted from a transplantationthanks to 165 deceased donors in Quebec and their fami-lies, a significant increase of 45 donors compared to 2012.The number of people on the waiting list decreased by 15%from 1,250 people at the end of 2012 to 1,047 on December31, 2013, thus matching the number of people on the list eightyears ago. Also in 2013, a total of 38 deaths were reportedamong people on the waiting list, some 31 fewer than in2012. That said, a single death is still one too many.

Transplant Québec is pleased, and there aregrounds for cautious optimism

Transplant Québec is proud to present a positive update. Forthe first time, Quebec has attained the benchmark of 20 de-ceased donors per million inhabitants (dpmi) with a rate of20.2 donors. This also marks a first in Canada. “The effortsdeployed by all stakeholders in the organ donation andtransplantation system over the past three years and themeasures undertaken by the government to support organdonation have begun to pay off,” said Louis Beaulieu, theorganization’s CEO. “It is vital that we continue to buildon this momentum.” At the same time, Transplant Québecremains cautiously optimistic. “When it comes to organdonation, nothing can be taken for granted,” addedMr Beaulieu. Indeed, if all the conditions were right eachtime organ donation was possible, the maximum number ofdonors per year would be slightly more than 300, accordingto the estimates of the Collège des médecins du Québec .

Transplant Québec will continue to support these collectiveefforts as actively as possible by collaborating closely withhealth and social services establishments when it comesto identifying all potential donors in critical care units andbringing the organ donation process to a successfulconclusion. The organization once again invites citizens toofficially signal their intentions regarding organ donationafter death by registering their consent and duly informingtheir loved ones. Awareness promotion, public educationand training are among the keys to success.

“As a representative of the families of donors and recipientson Transplant Québec’s board of directors, it is importantthat I remind people that organ donation can make all thedifference in the lives of recipients and their families, butalso for donor families – and they attest to this on a regularbasis,” said Ms. René Dussault, president of the board.

Transplant Québec wishes to remind people that organdonation enables the health system to achieve savings,largely because the vast majority of kidney transplantrecipients no longer require dialysis treatment. There were275 deceased donor kidney transplants in 2013, and anadditional 53 kidney transplants from living donors.In addition, a more timely organ transplant not onlysaves lives, but it also promotes speedier recovery timesand reduces the significant costs incurred by lengthyhospitalizations, which are the norm for many peoplewaiting for a vital organ such as a heart, liver or lung. “Witha higher number of donors meeting the medical and legalcriteria for organ donation, there is a higher probability offinding a donor more quickly, and hospitalization times andthe risk of death are reduced as well. At the end of the day,our society as a whole benefits,” said Mr. Beaulieu.

Declaring one’s intention to become a potential donor

Transplant Québec invitesevery citizen to learn moreabout organ donation, signaltheir intention to their lovedones, and take concrete ac-tion in one or more of the fol-lowing ways.

(www.signezdon.gouv.qc.ca):

• Sign the form titled Con-sent to Organ and TissueDonation issued by theRégie de l’assurance mal-adie du Québec. The consent form is included with the

Mr. Louis Beaulieu, ExecutiveDirector, Transplant Québec



The Foundation’s efforts to increase the number of kidneytransplants are already paying off

The Foundation is continuing its campaign to raise thenumber of kidney transplants performed in Quebec,from both cadaveric and living donors, to 350 by 2017, andits efforts are already paying off.

To reach this target, a number of recommendations weremade to Quebec’s Minister of Health and Social Services tostress the urgency of the situation. An economic study anda report, Soutenir la pratique de la greffe rénale au Québec :pourquoi et comment (Supporting the practice of kidneytransplants in Quebec: why and how), both clearlydemonstrate the financial benefits of transplantation.

These efforts have already yielded results: in early March,the Foundation met with Dr. Louis Couture, AssistantDeputy Minister at the Directorate General of HealthServices and Academic Medicine in Quebec. A number ofrecommendations tabled by the Foundation have alreadybecome pilot projects.

Among these recommendations, the Foundation suggestedputting a physician in charge of coordinating, in conjunc-tion with a resource nurse, all steps in the deceased donororgan retrieval process. This measure will be implementedat 10 to 12 medical centres in 2014.

Next, the Foundation recommended that a pilot projectbe launched with an eye to structuring and supportingorgan retrieval and transplantation activities at speciallyselected institutions, which would be given a specialbudget for this purpose. This pilot project is under wayat Montreal’s Sacré-Cœur Hospital and the results to dateare very promising. Should the evaluation of the pilotproject be conclusive, three or four more retrieval centrescould be accepted.

In terms of living donor kidney transplants, the AssistantDeputy Minister has asked the Chair of the Foundation’sOrgan and Tissue Donation Committee, CHUM nephrologistDr. Michel Pâquet, to develop a framework for promotingthe adoption of his practices at other transplant centres.The CHUM transplant centre, often noted for its efficiency,has seen the most significant growth in the number ofliving donor transplants.

And lastly, the Foundation is currently developing aninformative website for people interested in becominga living donor.

Every year, approximately 250 transplants are performed inQuebec. The Kidney Foundation of Canada is delighted tosee transplant rates grow by 15% in 2013. In addition to the275 grafts from deceased donors, 53 kidneys from livingdonors were also transplanted, bringing the 2013 total ofkidney transplants to 328. Without taking all the creditfor this increase, we are convinced that the Foundation’smajor campaign to promote kidney transplantation helpedraise the profile boost the visibility of organ donation inthe media.

Yet despite this, the number of patients awaiting atransplant remains very high. On December 31, 2013, 1,047Quebecers were on the waiting list for an organ transplant,785 (75%) of whom were waiting for a kidney. And manypeople pass away while still on the waiting list. The numberof people suffering from kidney failure continues to climb,and all signs indicate that the trend is unlikely to easeanytime soon, due mainly to the aging population and therise in the incidence of diabetes and high blood pressure,which are precursors to kidney disease.

renewal of health insurance card. It may also be orderedat any time by calling 1 800 561-9749.

• Sign the consent sticker upon reception of your newhealth insurance card and affix it to the back of the card.

• Register your consent (or refusal) with the Registre desconsentements au don d’organes et de tissus adminis-tered by the Chambre des notaires du Québec

About Transplant Québec Transplant Québec has a mandate from the Minister ofHealth and Social Services to save lives and improve the

health of persons in need of a transplant by coordinatingthe organ donation process, ensuring the equitable alloca-tion of organs, supporting best clinical practices throughconsensus-building and the mobilization of its partners, andpromoting organ donation in the society at large. TransplantQuébec therefore works to ensure that the greatest possiblenumber of Quebecers waiting for an organ can benefit froma transplant in as timely a fashion as practicable.

1 Potential organ donors in Quebec-based hospitals in 2009.2 Based on figures available from transplantation programs


KRESCENT total includes amounts disbursed directly byCanadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) $479,184, Fondsde la recherche en santé du Québec (FRSQ) $67,454, CanadianDiabetes Association $35,000, Universities and ResearchInstitutes $125,000, Canadian Child Health Clinician ScientistProgram (CCHCSP) $17,500 and New Brunswick HealthResearch Foundation (NBHRF) $24,000.

Research

Research facts - Investments 2013-2014The Kidney Foundation is investing $4.5 millionin 74 research grants awarded with partners fora total of $7.2 million.

Since 1964, The Kidney Foundation has investedover $110 million to support kidney-related research.

The Grant totals includes funds disbursed directly by the AlportSyndrome Foundation (USA), the Canadian Institutes of HealthResearch (CIHR), Kidney Cancer Canada, the NephCure Foundationas well as the organizations mentioned below for the KRESCENTProgram.

Does not include the KRESCENT Program.


Did you think of making a donation in your will?

If you would like to find out more about making a gift in your will,please contact Martine Riopelle at [email protected]

or 1-800-565-4515 • www.kidney.ca/planned-giving

The Kidney Foundation 2013-2014 Grant Distribution by Areas of Focus

Launched in Quebec in 1995, Kidney Caris a fundraising program created by

the Foundation. The concept is remarkably simple: if youhave an old car you would like to part with, you can donateit to The Kidney Foundation of Canada. The Foundationhas agreements with a number of Quebec auto recyclingpartners that will tow your vehicle away for free. Once yourold car is off the road, it is broken down into parts to beeither re-sold or fully recycled. You’re not only contributing



Patient ServicesTo receive documentation and information about theprograms offered by the Quebec Branch of The KidneyFoundation of Canada, refer to the “Patient Programsand Support” and “Organ Donation” sections of ourWeb site at www.kidney.ca/quebec, or contact:

Hélène Boisvert, Programs DirectorThe Kidney Foundation of Canada – Quebec Branch2300 René-Lévesque Blvd WestMontreal, Quebec H3H 2R5Tel.: 514-938-4515, ext. 224, or 1-800-565-4515E-mail: [email protected]

A new free dialysis servicefor Southern FloridaIs it possible to get dialysis treatments in Southern Floridafor free? For all the Quebecers who travel to this part ofthe US each year, it is now!

Thanks to his contacts in the pharmaceutical industry, YvesDubé, a Quebecer who has been on dialysis for three years,established a partnership with the Universal Kidney Center(UKC), a major dialysis clinic with five centers in SouthernFlorida.

From now on, Quebecers vacationing in Southern Floridacan have their dialysis treatments at any UKC centre withouthaving to foot the bill. Quebec’s health insurance plan, RAMQ,will pay the $220 cost of each treatment directly to the clinic.Only the initial $150 set-up fee is not covered by RAMQ.

UKC’s five centres are located throughout Southern Florida,in Fort Lauderdale, Boynton Beach/Palm Beach, Margate/Coral Springs, Davie and Pembroke Pines/Miramar.

This new service is excellentnews for the thousands ofQuebecers on dialysis. Untilnow, if they wanted to con-tinue their dialysis treatmentsat a clinic in Florida, they hadto pay the fees up front andrequest a reimbursement fromRAMQ once they returned toQuebec, where processingoften takes several months. The cost of weeks’ worth ofdialysis treatments can reach several thousand dollars inthe US, which can create a financial burden for people withlimited funds.

To find out about availability at the dialysis centres or forany other question, visit universalkidneycenters.com orcall 786 290 4270 (service is available in French at thePembroke Pines clinic).

Yves Dubé is behind thisnew partnership with theUniversal Kidney Center inSouthern Florida

“As The Kidney Foundation of Canada cele-brates its 50th anniversary this year, I amparticularly pleased to be the spokesman forthe Kidney Car Program and to be able tohelp promote this worthy endeavour. I amparticularly drawn to this humanitariancause, which incidentally helps boost roadsafety.” Jacques DuvalBe

rnar

d Br

aultRecycle your old jalopy with

the Kidney Car program

to a good cause, you’re also helping reduce greenhouse gasesand doing something good for the environment.

In addition to free towing, you’ll get a tax receipt fromThe Kidney Foundation of Canada for the value of yourdonation.

For more information on the Kidney Car program, visit kidney.ca/kidneycar.qc


Become a member of The Kidney Foundation of Canada – Quebec Branch

• Receive the Kidney Link and Your Health insert • Receive information on our activities

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No income tax receipt is issued for membership fees.This information is to process the payment of your donation. We do not electronically store credit card information.

Make a donation to The Kidney Foundation of Canada

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� Please remove my name from your mailing list.We may use your contact information for future correspondence, including fundraising opportunities. If you do not wish us to do so, please call us at 1-877-361-4947.We thank you in advance for your patience. Please allow 30 days for any changes to be made.Please complete this form, detach it and mail it in the return envelope includedwith this newsletter. Thank you for affixing your own stamp.Doing so helps us minimize costs and is considered an additional donation.

2014

The Kidney Foundation of Canada Quebec Branch

2300 René-Lévesque Blvd WestMontreal, Quebec H3H 2R5Tel.: 514-938-4515 • 1 800 565-4515Fax: 514-938-4757 • [email protected]

www.kidney.ca/quebec

kidney link spring 2014

Documents

years kidney

kidney linkspring

burden of kidney disease

annual kidney walk

burden of kidney failure

kidney carprogram spokesmanits

foundations efforts

promoteorgan donation