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What Is It and How Did I Get It?
Finding out she had Chronic Kidney Disease
three-and-a-half years ago, Gail Rae asked herself, “What is it and how did I
get it?”
She blurted those questions to her family doctor and she asked it herself over and over again. The Phoenix, AZ resident felt she had no outlet, no information and no support, althoughher doctor tried to explain the disease to her.
A nonfiction writer for over 20 years, Rae began researching and writing. She found that people in the early stages of CKD needed something more. They needed someone to share their journey to make their trek easier. That’s exactly what she did, writing the book “What Is It and How Did I Get It? Early Stage Chronic Kidney Disease.”
While obviously not happy to have kidney disease, Rae tries to make the sometimes bewildering journey a teensy bit easier for anyone. For a private person, she’s been pretty open about her disease and her life. This has helped Rae accept her diagnosis, something she hadn’t thought about while writing the book. Her hope is that it helps you accept yours.
“What Is It and How Did I Get It?Early Stage Chronic Kidney Disease” provides basic information for those diagnosed with kidney disease and their loved ones, covering everything from a glossary of medical terms to what to expect at a doctor’s visit, what tests look for, the need for exercise and renal nutrition.
While not everything directly relates to NephCure’s mission of fighting FSGS and Nephrotic Syndrome, having someone share their experiences is helpful nonetheless.
“Recently, NephCure magically appeared on my Facebook page,” said Rae. “I don’t take that lighty. There’s a reason it showed up. After examining their website, I discovered the Foundation is a wonderful resource for patients and is working incredibly [filtered word] the research front. I recommend that families dealing with the kidney diseases FSGS and Nephrotic Syndrome become involved with NephCure and share their stories. As patients, it’s so important to support each other.”
Rae has had her essay featured on the front pages of KidneyTimes.com and RSNHope.org. The American Society of Nephrologists and the Chronic Kidney Disease Support Forum’s Facebook pages both carry her blog – “What Is It and How Did I Get It? Early Stage Chronic Kidney Disease” – based on this book. She’s also guest blogged on several medical issues blogs.
Click here to find out more about ordering What Is It and How Did I Get It? Early Stage Chronic Kidney Disease.