the kidney-link - the kidney foundation of canada, quebec branch

Kidney-LinkSpring 2012 Quebec Branch Newsletter

The foundation of kidney care

Your Health Preventing Skin Cancer

President’s Message..................................................... 2

The Kidney Walk........................................................... 3

News from the chapters ............................................... 7

Patient services ............................................................ 8

Research ...................................................................... 9

Organ Donation .......................................................... 10

Bulletin board.............................................................. 11

Your HealthPreventing Skin

CancerAfter undergoing a kidney transplant, yourrisk of developing skin cancer increases,so it’s especially important to adopt ahealthier lifestyle and avoid staying in thesun too long.

The KidneyWalk

Needs You!

The Kidney Walk will take place on May 27, 2012, in eightcities across Quebec. In anticipation of the event, people whoselives have been impacted directly or indirectly by kidneydisease are telling their story. They’re kidney donors andrecipients, doctors, nephrologists, and parents of childrensuffering from kidney failure, and they have stories to tell.They also have something else in common: they all dream ofimproving quality of life for people living with kidney disease.Whether they work centre stage or behind the scenes, theirinvolvement in the Foundation’s cause is vital because it helpsthe public understand the realities of kidney disease.

Together we can make a difference

During The Kidney Foundation of Canada – Quebec Branch Annual Conference to be heldMay 4 to 6, 2012, we will be adopting a new strategic plan to guide our actions until 2015.Considering that its adoption is pending, it would be premature to publish its contents.However, we’re pleased to tell you a little about the major themes we’ve been discussing.

Increasing volunteer numbers in order to extend the Foundation’sreach and the number of activities held in Quebec

The Kidney Foundation of Canada – Quebec Branch has decided to invest in its chapters to fulfill its mission in theprovince. And the best way to build and develop chapters is to recruit, train and support volunteers. The QuebecBranch will continue to support and equip the volunteers who work for the chapters, while seizing and creatingopportunities to build up the local chapters in the most populous regions, with special emphasis on those withdialysis centres.

Implementing mechanisms to ensure a constantly growing and recurring revenue streamto fund the Branch’s increasing operationsThe Kidney Foundation of Canada’s fundraising culture was built around annual donations—events, door-to-doorcampaigns, The KidneyWalk and direct-mail solicitation. Our fundraising activities have long included special events,such as galas, golf tournaments and benefit dinners. These campaigns and events foster community participationand play a dual role: raising funds and increasing public awareness. However, such campaigns can also generatehigher costs. To reach our main objective of ensuring a constant and recurring increase in revenues under theresponsibility of the Branch, we will assess every event and activity and continuously improve our methods withan eye to reducing our funding costs; we will develop new sources of revenue and major donations, and replacethose sources that have plateaued or are on the decline.

Raising public awareness about the importance of the Foundation’s mission, kidneydisease and organ donationWewill never be able to advance the cause of kidney failure to any significant extent if we work in the shadows. Wewill never be able to prevent kidney disease if the public is unaware of the causes and the risks. We will never beable to gain the support of volunteers and donors if they are not convinced of the vital nature of our mission andthe benefits our organization provides to society. We will therefore work harder to inform the public about kidneydisease and its devastating effects; pursue and intensify our efforts to screen the general public for this disease, witha special focus on at-risk groups; help provide ongoing training to health professionals who are not nephrology spe-cialists; demonstrate the impact research has on the lives of patients and the hope it brings; raise awareness oforgan donation to encourage members of the public to confirm their consent; and ensure that the families of the de-ceased respect their loved ones’ wishes to donate organs. And lastly, we will spread the word about the essentialrole the Foundation plays in ensuring the well-being of patients and the importance of supporting the organization.

Positioning ourselves as the organization that promotes the well-being of Quebecerssuffering from kidney failureThe Foundation provides important services to people suffering from kidney failure. However, we recognize with greathumility that the most vital services are in fact delivered to patients by the government via the healthcare network.

For that reason, the Foundation plays a leading role in ensuring that people suffering from kidney failure haveaccess to high-quality health services. The enactment in early 2011 of Bill 125, which promotes organ donation inQuebec, responded to a number of demands brought forth by the Foundation in previous years to advance thecause of people awaiting a kidney transplant.

Our Organ and Tissue Donation Committee has developed an action plan to substantially increase the number ofkidney transplants. We are now poised to turn words into action to convince the healthcare authorities to make thekind of changes that will put an end to the systemic constraints currently preventing the maximum possible numberof transplants from taking place.

This will be followed by a dialysis and prevention action plan.

We will consult with people suffering from kidney failure to confirm that the services we provide are meeting theirneeds.

We will also ask people suffering from kidney failure and their loved ones to show their support for the Foundationby getting involved.

The discussions that have taken place in the lead-up to the strategic plan’s adoption have provided us with insightinto the stimulating challenges in store over the next four years. We are convinced that the discussions held atour annual conference will help us not only to improve the proposals we plan to table, but also to mobilizearound common strategies to better fulfill our mission.

2 Kidney-Link • Spring 2012

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].

CCOOOORRDDIINNAATTIIOONN AANNDD WWRRIITTIINNGGAntoine Ardiley

CCOONNTTRRIIBBUUTTIIOONNChristopher Gobeil

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PPRROODDUUCCTTIIOONN Ardecom

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

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

FFAAXX 514-938-4757

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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 kidney failure, these publica-tions provide valuable informationon the Foundation’s services andactivities, including the latest fin-dings on kidney disease and organdonation.

The opinions expressed in Kidney-Link and Your Health do not neces-sarily reflect those of the QuebecBranch of The Kidney Foundationof Canada, its directors, employeesor members.

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

Articles may be reproduced provi-ded that the source is quoted.

Christopher GobeilPresident

President’s Message Working toward the Adoption of the 2012–2015 Strategic Plan

Your donation goes a long way at The Kidney Foundation

Kidney-Link • Spring 2012 3

This year, The Kidney Walk will take placesimultaneously in Dolbeau, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Gatineau, Montreal, Quebec City,the Saguenay, Sherbrooke and Trois-Rivières.The event’s objective is to help fund researchand raise public awareness about kidneydisease and the importance of organ dona-tion. It’s a perfect opportunity for dialysispatients, transplant recipients, donors’families, living donors, the medical communityand the general public to support theadvancement of renal health and organdonation.

For more information and to register online,please visit

www.kidney.ca/quebecwalk.

With over 20 years of involvement in the Founda-tion’s activities, Dr. Clermont is a woman of com-mitment who created the summer camp for dialyzedand transplant recipient children from Quebec.Created in 1993 by The Kidney Foundation ofCanada, the camp gives over 60 children a yearthe chance to enjoy a week of holidays while con-tinuing their treatments, thanks to the dedicationof a volunteer medical team from Sainte-JustineHospital and the Montreal Children’s Hospital.

Ever since sitting on the first Kidney Walk Commit-tee in 2009, Dr. Clermont has consistently joineda team of nephrologists who “walk The Walk” forpatients and their families.

She hopes patients and their families will take partin this year’s Kidney Walk. “It’s a great way to getout and exercise,” she said.

By the time the symptoms of kidney disease ap-pear, it’s already too late. Every year, The KidneyWalk reminds us that we need to keep our kidneyshealthy to ward off diabetes and high bloodpressure, the two main causes of kidney failure.

“Chronic disease requires doctors and hospitalsto take an unremitting approach to care and todevelop a long-term relationship with patients.We become close to them,” said Dr. Clermont.

According to Dr. Clermont, the comfort level,closeness and trust that develops between doc-tors and patients are key to the success of TheKidney Walk, and she would like to see recordnumbers turn out for this year’s event, to givethe Foundation the degree of visibility it needsto fulfill its mission.

The Kidney Walk

Inspiring Stories

The Kidney Walk

Dr. Marie-José Clermont is anephrologist at Montreal’sSainte-Justine Hospital anda member of the Montréal-Métropolitain Chapter’sBoard of Directors.

MMaarrttiinn HHéérroouuxx An actor known for his roles in the television shows 1,2,3…Géant, Dieu merci ! andL’auberge du chien noir, as wellas his theatrical performances.

BBrruunnoo SSaavvaarrddHost of the Radio-Canadanews program Téléjournal

Québec.

Our spokespersons

DDrr.. MMaarriiee--JJoosséé CClleerrmmoonntt



The Kidney Walk - Inspiring Stories

At 23, Sébastien Larochellefound out that he had Berger’sdisease and that his kidneyswere functioning at only 50%capacity. This was devastatingnews for Sébastien, a high-level athlete and Canadianuniversity champion in the60 m hurdles event with apromising athletic career ahead

of him. One year later, he started dialysis… three times a week forfive hours at a stretch. The treatment was tough and lasted two anda half years until the day his doctor told him they’d found a com-patible donor, someone who could give him back his health. Thetransplant took place on June 26, 2000.

Three months later, complications set in and Sébastien had to un-dergo an operation to deal with an infection he’d contracted. Theoperation was a success, and only eight weeks later, he was back intraining. His goal? To compete in the 2001 World Transplant Gamesin Kobe, Japan, only a year after the transplant. He took home twogold medals in track and field (100 m and 200 m).

In 2003, he did it all over again in France, successfully defending histwo titles. In 2005, he was off to London, Ontario, to defend hismedals again. But because of injuries, he had put track and field asideand started training as a swimmer. He returned home to Montrealwith two silver medals, one for the 50 m freestyle, the other for the100 m. Today, Sébastien is training for the 2013 World TransplantGames in South Africa.

On May 27, 2012, Sébastien will be taking part in The Kidney Walk.“It’s a great way to raise public awareness about the reality of livingwith kidney disease, and it’s a fun way to raise funds for research,”said Sébastien.

“And as someone who’s competing in the World Transplant Games,physical activity is symbolic to me,” said Sébastien, who would liketo see more people than ever take part in The Kidney Walk. “It’s anopportunity to get out and move, something that can be tough forsome transplantees,” he said, adding that sport helped him controlhis extremely high blood pressure.

You might have read Malik’s story in the Spring2010 Kidney-Link. Today, he’s three and a half, andalthough he still suffers from kidney failure, hiskidneys are slowly improving.

“He’ll be going to school in 2013, so we’re prepar-ing him for the kind of schedule he’ll have,” saidhis mother, Sabrina Nimour.

Malik is growing normally and sees his doctorsevery six months. “If he remains stable, Malikwon’t need a transplant until high school,” shesaid. Malik’s relatively good health is due to the“extraordinary work of the doctors at the MontrealChildren’s Hospital and of nurse Paule Comtois inparticular,” she added.

Ms. Nimour has been involved in The Kidney Walksince 2009. At this year’s Kidney Walk, which willbe held on May 27, she’d like to see a great turnoutand generous donations to help boost the event’sprofile.

“My community knows what Malik is goingthrough. They all give a lot, but the battle is farfrom being won,” she said, adding that she wantsto personally “raise a lot of money to support thecause.”

SSéébbaassttiieenn LLaarroocchheellllee SSaabbrriinnaa NNiimmoouurr

Sébastien Larochellereceived a kidney in June 2000.

Sabrina Nimour and her son Malik, who has suffered from kidney failure since birth.

On June 15, 2010, Lyne Beaulieuof Granby gave a kidney toeight-year-old Raphaëlle Gos-selin, changing her life forever.

Raphaëlle had been sufferingfrom kidney failure from a verytender age. In November 2008,when she was six, doctors de-cided to remove both her kidneysbecause they’d stopped working. After the operation, she had to undergo dialysis six hours a day, every weekday for two years until she wasold enough to receive a donor kidney.

It was Raphaëlle’s grandmother who made Lyne aware of the child’s situation.Touched by her story and by how young she was, she decided to donate a kid-ney to Raphaëlle. Lyne is a universal donor, so she knew she was compatible.

She had met Raphaëlle only a few months before deciding to give her a kid-ney. She contacted Sainte-Justine Hospital to tell them what she wanted todo, and then, under the supervision of Dr. Clermont, she underwent a seriesof compulsory tests in the first half of 2010. Lyne persevered and pushedthe hospital to minimize the time between tests. Her goal was to get Raphaëlleher transplant as soon as possible to spare her the painful dialysis treatments.“I admire this family. They’re what kept me going,” said Lyne.

Lyne and Raphaëlle met only once more before the transplant. Lyne gaveRaphaëlle a stuffed toy. “It’ll bring you good news,” Lyne told her.

The transplant took place on June 15, 2010, and was successful.

In the days that followed, Lyne received a call from Raphaëlle, who told herthe good news. She had just finished drinking a glass of apple juice, a glassof orange juice and a glass of water, one after the other. Lyne knew that suchsimple things meant the world to the little girl and was overjoyed to seeRaphaëlle leading a normal life like all the other girls her age.

However, Lyne keeps a low profile when it comes to Raphaëlle’s family.“I didn’t give her my kidney, I just gave her a kidney,” she said. “I’m just a linkin the long chain of life.” She added that during this “incredible journey ofsolidarity,” she had “experienced great things.” She would also like to drawattention to the “outstanding skills of the doctors and the kindness of thenurses” throughout the transplant process.

She encourages the public to take part in The Kidney Walk and to sign theirhealth insurance card to indicate that they want to donate their organs.

LLyynnee BBeeaauulliieeuu



Lyne Beaulieu gave one of her kidneys to Raphaëlle (age 8).

Luc Despatis hashad four kidney

transplants in 33 years.

LLuucc DDeessppaattiiss

At 48, Luc Despatis really knows what “transplant” means.Over a 33-year period, he had four kidney transplants andas many courses of dialysis. His story is as extraordinary asit is eventful.

When he was 14, doctors noticed that he had a malformedkidney and ordered a battery of tests. They discovered thatboth his kidneys were working at only 25% capacity. He thendid a nine-month stretch of dialysis, until the day his fatherdecided to give him the ultimate gift, one of his own kidneys.

Unfortunately, the transplanted kidney did not adapt to its newenvironment, and a second operation to correct the problemdidn’t work. Luc’s body rejected the kidney his father hadgiven him.

Luc had no other choice but to go back on dialysis until theday he underwent a second transplant. This one gave him hisnormal life back for 11 years.

However, history repeated itself and one day, his body beganrejecting the kidney. But only a month later, out of the blue, anew kidney became available for Luc. He underwent a thirdtransplant in 1993.

In 2007, after 14 years of faithful service, that kidney stoppedworking, and Luc had to go back on dialysis for over a year.

His fourth and latest transplant took place in 2008, furtherproof that the services The Kidney Foundation of Canadaprovides enabled him to maintain high hopes through everystage of his illness.

Luc would like everyone to mark May 27 in their calendar andparticipate in The Kidney Walk to help promote organ donationand improve quality of life for people like him who live withkidney disease.


I became aware of the Kidney Walk a few years ago when Louis Charestwas promoting it at the school that my children, and his daughter attend.Obviously, as a nephrologist, I was interested in the walk, and in pro-moting participation. As a former KRESCENT New Investigator awardrecipient, I felt that I should get involved, to help support The KidneyFoundation. After all, The Kidney Foundation support that I receivedmade a huge difference to me and to my research. My involvement inthe walk has been primarily to work toward increasing awarenessamong patients and families of the important work of The Kidney Foun-dation of Canada, and to increase participation of patients and familiesin the walk. We have made good progress, and have every reason tobelieve that this year will be the best year yet.

Dr. Beth Foster is a nephrologist at the Montreal Children's Hospital

We're behind you all the way


On May 27, build you team and walk with us to support kidney health and organ donation

To register:

kidney.ca/quebecwalk

DDrr.. BBeetthh FFoosstteerr

The Kidney Walk Sunday, May 278 par ticipating regions


YOUR HEALTH • Spring 2012 1

YourHealth

Spring 2012 The Kidney Foundation of Canada, Quebec Branch

The publication of this special feature was made possible thanks to the financial support of:

PreventingSkin Cancer

Recipients of a kidney transplant are obliged to take immunosuppresors to preventrejection. These medications weaken the body’s defences, sometimes causing skininfections or cancers to appear. Transplant recipients in particular are obliged topay special attention to screening for this complication, which can be very serious.

Skin cancers are more prevalent among transplant recipients, appearing mainly inareas of the body that are exposed to the sun. On average, the onset period forthese cancers is seven to nine years after transplant and twenty to thirty yearsearlier than persons who haven’t undergone a transplant.

2 YOUR HEALTH • Spring 2012

Your Health

WHAT IS SKIN CANCER?

Skin cancer originates in the skin cells and takesthe form of a malignant skin tumour that developsin the layers of the epidermis and dermis, and inthe sweat and sebaceous glands. Most tumours,like warts, are benign. But others are malignantand can metastasize to separate organs.

TYPES OF SKIN CANCER

SSKKIINN CCAANNCCEERRSS AARREE DDIIVVIIDDEEDD IINNTTOO TTWWOOMMAAIINN CCAATTEEGGOORRIIEESS:: MMAALLIIGGNNAANNTTMMEELLAANNOOMMAASS AANNDD NNOONNMMEELLAANNOOMMAASS

Malignant melanomas can appear at any age andusually strike people with fair skin. Melanoma is arare but serious form of cancer, as it can generatemetastases and invade other organs. In 2011, anestimated 5,500 new cases of melanoma will bediagnosed in Canada.

Nonmelanomas affect mostly people over fifty andaccount for 90% of skin cancers. The name stemsfrom the fact that it develops at the deepest levelof the epidermis. In 2011, an estimated 74,100 newcases of nonmelanoma will be diagnosed inCanada (20,000 new cases in Quebec).

WHO IS AT RISK OF DEVELOPINGSKIN CANCER?

No one is completely immune to the sun’s ef-fects. Over time, repeated exposure to UV rayscan cause skin cancer.

Nowadays, the risk of skin cancer is much higherthan it was twenty years ago, due mainly to our in-creasingly active lifestyles. People are spendingmore time working and having fun in the sun,often without adequate protection. In addition,because of ozone thinning caused by pollution,chemical and otherwise, we are now exposed toa higher proportion of ultraviolet rays.

We are currently witnessing a rise in the inci-dence of skin cancer. Since 1990, skin cancercases have increased by two-thirds in Canada.Moreover, one in seven babies born today runsthe risk of contracting skin cancer later in life.

Persons who run a higher risk of developingskin cancer include:

• transplant recipients;

• people with fair skin or freckles;

• people with a considerable number of beautymarks;

• people who work outdoors;

• people who have had serious sunburns;

• people with a family history of melanomas;

• people with psoriasis treated with methoxsalenand ultraviolet light.

Prevention measures

ACCORDING TO EXPERTS, USING SUN PROTEC-TION CAN REDUCE THE RISK OF SKIN CANCERBY UP TO NINETY PERCENT. THE FOLLOWINGPRECAUTIONS WILL HELP TO REDUCE THE RISKOF CONTRACTING THIS DISEASE.

• Protect the skin and avoid sunburn;

• Apply sunscreen (minimum SPF 30) approx.thirty minutes before exposure to the sun andavoid prolonged exposure. Re-apply afterswimming;

• Whenever possible, wear a hat, long sleevesand pants;

• Stay in the shade between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.,when the sun is at its most intense;

• Keep children in the shade; all children mustwear a hat and maximum-protection sunscreen;

• Check the skin regularly for new beauty marksor moles; if the size, colour or shape changes,or if there is flaking, speak to your care team;

• Carry out a head-to-toe examination everymonth (including the dorsal area of the body,the scalp and the flap of the ear);

• See your family physician on an annual basisfor an examination of your entire body; if youdiscover a new lesion or observe a change inan existing lesion, advise your physician oryour kidney transplant nurse.

However, the most effective means of pre-venting skin cancer is to avoid direct exposureto the sun, especially during the middle of theday.

Did you know that…

Skin cancer is the most widespread form of can-cer.

Success rates for skin cancer treatment would be100% if all cases were treated before they had achance to spread; hence the importance of pre-vention through early detection by a physician.

Statistics

• In 2011, an estimated 5,500 new cases ofmelanoma will be diagnosed in Canada (760new cases in Quebec);

• The incidence of skin cancer increases by 5%annually worldwide;

• Skin cancer rates rise by 15% a year in Quebecand have increased by 600% in the past twentyyears;

• An estimated 50% of people over 65 willhave at least one episode of skin cancer intheir lifetime.

HOW ARE SKIN CANCERS DIAGNOSED?

Before advancing a diagnosis of skin cancer, yourphysician will ask questions about your state ofhealth and examine you for signs and symptoms.In general, though, a skin biopsy is required toconfirm the diagnosis, and biopsies often en-tail the use of a local anesthetic. If the cells arecancerous, further tests will be carried out todetermine how fast they are growing.

In short, the melanoma patient’s survival dependsmainly on early detection and treatment, whetherit involves a new lesion or a change in a beautymark. Therefore, any change in the appearanceof the skin must be duly noted. This includes achange in colour, size or consistency, or the onsetof itchiness or bleeding, although skin cancersare not painful in the early stages.

PLANNING A VACATION?

People who are sick tend to scrap their travelplans. Yet it’s still possible to stray far fromhome even a few months after a receiving atransplant.

Here are a few tips aimed at helping you planyour next vacation:

• People travelling by air are advised to keeptheir medication close at hand, and, in theevent of a time difference, to take their immu-nosuppressors at the usual times once theyadapt to the local time zone;

• People intent on being vaccinated should re-member that some vaccines are contra-indicatedfor transplant recipients; speak to your care teamto find out which vaccines are safe;

• Remember to bring enough medication to lastthe entire vacation;

YOUR HEALTH • Spring 2012 3

Your Health

4 YOUR HEALTH • Spring 2012

• Make sure that you have good insurance cove-rage, but be careful: most travel insurance doesnot cover medical problems related to kidneyfailure and transplantation;

• In your wallet, carry a document indicating yourorgan recipient status (in the local languageor at least in English), together with a list ofthe medications you are taking as well as anydiseases or allergies you might have;

• If you are on a special diet, do not hesitate tocontact your hotel in advance to inform them;

• In all cases, it is important to protect your skinagainst the sun, since immunosuppressant treat-ment increases the risk of skin cancer, and expo-sure is the pre-eminent factor. Avoid exposure,try to wear long sleeves, a hat and sunglasses,and use a sunscreen with the maximum sun pro-tection factor (SPF).

Your Health is a publication of the QuebecBranch of The Kidney Foundation of Canada.Its aim is to provide general information onkidney disease, its complications and treat-ment. The information contained in YourHealth in no way constitutes medical advice.For comprehensive information on trans-plantation, please contact your physician orcare team.

For more on the services and programs of-fered by the Quebec Branch of The KidneyFoundation of Canada: 1 800 565-4515 orwww.rein.ca/quebec

RReeffeerreenncceess::

Public Health Agency of Canada: phac-aspc.gc.ca

Fondation québécoise du cancer : fqc.qc.ca

The College of Family Physicians of Canada:cfpc.ca

Passeport santé : passeportsante.net

Renaloo: renaloo.com

Canadian Cancer Society: cancer.ca

Your Health

The foundation of kidney care


Services aux patientsNews from the Chapters

The Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean Chapter’s annual Christmasdinner was held December 15 and 16, 2011, at theChicoutimi health and social services centre. The eventwas attended by some 150 people, including a largenumber of kidney patients, all of whom received giftsgenerously donated by sponsors.

Effyane Laberge is a nurse at the CSSS de Chicoutimi,and Anna Gonzaga has been on dialysis since 2009.

SAGUENAY/LAC-SAINT-JEAN CHAPTERSaguenay Christmas Dinner on December 15 and 16, 2011

ABITIBI-TÉMISCAMINGUE CHAPTERThe Lise and Michel Perron ChallengeHeld February 25, 2012, the fourth annual Lise and MichelPerron Challenge, formerly known as the Défi des PetitsLacs, was a huge success, raising nearly $10,000 for theFoundation.

To support the Foundation’s cause, skiers came out ingreat numbers and took to the cross-country trails in thePetits Lacs region despite the -18°C weather.

Michel Perron, a long-time Foundation volunteer who re-ceived a kidney transplant 19 years ago, attended theevent with his wife, Lise, to encourage the dedicated andclearly courageous skiers.

“Again this year, we’ll use the money we raised to increasepublic awareness about the important role organ donationand kidney research play in giving people with kidneydisease a better quality of life,” said Mr. Perron.

The Foundation wishes to thank everyone involved in theevent.

NEXT EDITION ON THE WEB

The Kidney-Link Fall edition will only beavailable on the web. Send us your emailat [email protected], you will get acopy hot off the press and run thechance to win a Future Shop gift cardworth $ 100. A draw amongst all validemail addresses will take place. You haveuntil May 31 to register



Patient ServicesTo receive documentation and informationabout the programs offered by the QuebecBranch of The Kidney Foundation of Canada,refer to the “Patient Programs and Support”and “Organ Donation” sections of our Web site at wwwwww..kkiiddnneeyy..ccaa//qquueebbeecc, 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]

Summer Camp for Quebec’s Dialyzed andTransplant Recipient ChildrenThe summer camp for dialyzed and transplant recipient children runby The Kidney Foundation of Canada – Quebec Branch will be heldfrom SSaattuurrddaayy,, AAuugguusstt 44 ttoo FFrriiddaayy,, AAuugguusstt 1100,, 22001122. Dr. Marie-JoséClermont, a nephrologist at Montreal’s Sainte-Justine Hospital, willbe on-site the entire week with a team of nurses from the MontrealChildren’s Hospital and Sainte-Justine Hospital.

ScholarshipsThe Kidney Foundation of Canada’s scholarship program was createdto provide financial support to dialysis patients and kidney transplantrecipients in the pursuit of college and university studies. The appli-cation deadline for the Fall 2012 semester is September 30.

Bell Mobility PagersThanks to an agreement between The Kidney Foundationof Canada and Bell Mobility, people awaiting a kidneytransplant can rent a numeric pager with unlimited servicein a specific coverage area free of charge for 12 months,as long as Bell provides coverage in that area.

Upon receiving the first invoice from Bell Mobility, it is very

important to send them another “request form for patientsawaiting a kidney transplant” to renew the free pagerservice. The service is valid for 12 months, so you mustsend Bell Mobility a new request form to indicate that youare still on the kidney transplant waiting list. If you failto send it in, your pager service could be terminated.To obtain the form, simply contact the Foundation.

The Kidney Foundation participated in the HealthShow held at Complexe Desjardins on April 10 and 11. Through the Kidney Health Center, theFoundation was able to raise awareness about theimportance of kidney health and conduct testingfor diabetes and hypertension, two major causesof kidney disease.

Mrs. Sara Ottoboni, Assistant - Administration & Communications at The Italian-Canadian Community Foundation (ICCF), sponsor of the Kidney Foundation Kidney Health Center and Mr. Luciano D'Ignazio, CA at Schwartz Levitsky Feldman and president of the Founder's Award Campaign – The KidneyFoundation of Canada.

The Foundation wishes to underlinethat the holding of the kiosks is madepossible through the generous supportof its donors and sponsors, includingICCF (The Italian-Canadian CommunityFoundation)

Prevention



Research

One of Canada’s most respected researchers, Dr. Daniel Bichet is aNephrologist at Montreal’s Sacré-CoeurHospital and at the Université de Montréal where he is also Professor of Medicine and Physiology and runs abasic physiological laboratory. Since 1982, Dr. Bichet has conductedgroundbreaking research, often withfunding from The Kidney Foundation of Canada (KFOC).

“I was very interested in the physiology of kidneyfunction,” Dr. Bichet begins. “In 1992, I received a2-year KFOC grant. That grant led to a major break-through in detecting a rare disease called diabetesinsipidus in which patients excrete large amounts ofurine due the loss of function of the kidney’s vaso-pressin receptors.”

Dr. Bichet explains: “Newborn infants with this diseaseare at risk of dehydration because they cannot voicetheir thirst.” He and his team determined the origin ofdiabetes insipidus by cloning and sequencing AVPR2,the gene responsible for it. Says Dr. Bichet, “Becausemothers are the carriers of this gene, we can now takeblood from the umbilical cord of at-risk newborns anddiagnose it within five days. Our lab continues to do thisfree of charge.”

Dr. Bichet has written the book on nephrogenic diabetesinsipidus, “on how we approach it and how we can de-tect it early, thus preventing dehydration episodes in in-fants that could lead to mental retardation and death.”Moreover, his research has proven applicable to manyother common diseases including heart failure, cirrhosisand hyponatremia.

Dr. Bichet is a strong advocate for basic research:“Without that preliminary type of work, nothing wouldhave been possible. The idea that science should haveimmediate benefit is some kind of illusion.” He believes

The Foundation is doing a great job, but they need moremoney. “I’m very proud that they helped me and I thinkI gave something back.”

Dr Daniel Bichet

Dr. Daniel Bichet: The value of pure and applied research



Organ Donation

Have you donated a kidney to a loved one or received akidney transplant?

Did your employer support you by continuing to pay yoursalary throughout the process or by giving you time off formedical examinations?

Let the public know about your company’s generosity bynominating it. Fill out the Registration form available on ourwebsite

www.kidney.ca/humanitarianThe Gift of Life - Humanitarian Award was established byThe Kidney Foundation of Canada, Quebec Branch in 2006to recognize the humanitarian efforts of companies whichfacilitated, in various ways, transplantation or donation ofa kidney for one or more of their employees. This awardaims to educate companies in Québec to the importanceof supporting their employees in the process of kidneydonation or transplantation.

GIFT OF LIFE - HUMANITARIAN AWARD

Would you like to helpthe Foundation by

holding your own

fundraising activity?

Find out how

by calling DevelopmentDirector Linda Pellas

at 514-938-4515, ext. 227.



Departure of Joëlle Turck,

Director of Volunteer Resources

It is with great sadness

that I have accepted

Joëlle Turck’s resignation

from her position as the

Foundation’s director

of volunteer resources.

Joëlle will be taking on

new challenges for an-

other organization closer

to her home.

Joëlle joined the Founda-

tion’s team in March

2009 and made a strong

mark during the three

years of her tenure. She

provided a great deal of support to Quebec’s local chapters,

particularly in the Eastern Townships and in the Outaouais

and Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean regions. She initiated the hold-

ing of chapter meetings, where discussions on the chapters’

future directions were held and which served as a great

training ground for volunteers. She also supported local

chapters in the development of their own annual budget and

work plans.

Moreover, she played a leading role in drafting the Quebec

Branch’s guidelines governing the chapters’ operations.

She supported the work of Volunteer Committee’s, which

reviewed all of the Branch’s awards of recognition, and

developed new tools for volunteers.

I would like to thank Joëlle for her great contribution to the

Branch, and on a more personal level, for her invaluable

collaboration with me. I have always appreciated her

efficiency, her result-oriented nature, and her keen under-

standing of the volunteer sector. I wish her the best of luck

in her new position.

Martin Munger Executive Director of The Kidney Founda

tion of Canada

– Quebec Branch

Bulletin Board

Mark your calendars••TThhee KKiiddnneeyy WWaallkk, May 27••EEaasstteerrnn TToowwnnsshhiippss CChhaapptteerr’’ssCCooffffeeee CClluubb MMeeeettiinngg, June 18••SSuummmmeerr ccaammpp ffoorr QQuuéébbeecc ddiiaallyyssiiss aanndd ttrraannssppllaanntt cchhiillddrreenn,,August 4 to 10, 2012•• LLaavvaall PPoolliiccee SSppaagghheettttii DDaayy, September 23••CCOODDAA GGaallaa, October 26

••QQuueebbeecc CCiittyy CChhaapptt

eerr’’ss GGoollff

TToouurrnnaammeenntt, June 4

••CCuunnnniinngghhaamm’’ss GGoollff TT

oouurrnnaammeenntt

aatt HHuuddssoonn’’ss FFaallccoonn GG

oollff CClluubb,

June 8 (for informatio

n,

contact Linda Pellas

at 514-938-4515, ext.

227)

••OOuuttaaoouuaaiiss CChhaapptteerr’’

ss

AAiimméé--CChhaarrrroonn GGoollff TToo

uurrnnaammeenntt,

June 15

•• FFoouunnddeerr’’ss AAwwaarrdd CC

aammppaaiiggnn GGoollff

TToouurrnnaammeenntt, Septemb

er 17

GolfTournaments



The mission of The Kidney Foundation of CanadaThe Kidney Foundation of Canada is the national volunteer organization committed to lesseningthe burden of kidney disease through:

• funding and stimulating innovative research;• providing education and support;• promoting access to high quality healthcare; and• increasing public awareness and commitment to advancingkidney health and organ donation.Quebec Branch

2300 René-Lévesque Blvd WestMontreal, Quebec H3H 2R5

Tel.: 514-938-45151-800-565-4515Fax: 514-938-4757

[email protected]/quebec

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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2012

the kidney-link - the kidney foundation of canada, quebec branch

Documents

kidney walk

kidney transplant

kidney failure

realities of kidney

local chapters

special events

fundraising activities

support volunteers