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Thanks for visiting my page! My name is Sarah Cote and I have a kidney disease called IgA nephropathy (also known as Bergner's disease). I have been faced with Kidney problems throughout my life and about 2 years ago my disease hit me hard. I was faced with a life-altering experience. My blood pressure was abnormally high, so high that doctors were shocked that I had not had a stroke or a heart attack. They immediately admitted me into intensive care and were worried that my kidneys were crashing. Being in the hospital for that week, I experienced so many life-altering things and I also realized that I had an enormous amount of people who cared for me and loved me! It truly made me realize how much that I am blessed with and what truthfully should be valued in life! I came out of the hospital ok and have been controlling my high blood pressure ever since (IgA causes hypertension).
Currently, my disease is in remission (inactive) but I have to make sure that I take care of myself. My kidneys are functioning at 20% right now which puts me in the highest risk group for kidney failure. I know that someday I will have to get a kidney transplant but its ok! I live life for today and am thankful for everything that I have! My loving family and friends show me that I can do anything!
The 2008 Gift of Life walk is my first step at becoming more involved with helping raise funds and awareness for people with kidney problems. I am not only doing this for myself but for so many others who are currently awaiting a kidney transplant.
To conclude, my health inevitably has become an amazing thing and has taught me to love every day that I live. I truly adore every moment of life shared with the people I love AND I adore meeting new people who are not afraid to JUMP into the UNKNOWN!
I love life.
Thanks again for visiting my Personal Fundraising Page. Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to make a contribution to my fundraising efforts. Many thanks for your support -- and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!
LOVE YOU ALL!
Sarah <3
Here is the info on the walk:
2008 Gift of Life Walk Sunday, June 29, 2008
9am Registration; 10:30am Walk Start
Soldier Field Great Lawn
Chicago, Illinois
Help us set another record with the 2008 Gift of Life Walk! Last year more than 1,200 participants joined the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois in support of kidney disease and diabetes awareness and prevention, organ donation education and early detection programs. This free event is offered each year to kidney patients, their families and friends, healthcare providers, transplant recipients, organ donor families and members of the Chicago area community. Following the three mile walk along Lake Michigan is an exciting and informative health fair and fantastic entertainment. For more information on this year's Walk, please contact Katherine Woerner at 312-321-1500 x238 or via email to kwoerner@nkfi.org.
Want to join my team??? LET ME KNOW! The more, the merrier and it's for a good cause!
JOIN TEAM COTE!
If you would like to Join my team and walk with me at Soldier Field on June 29th, here are the steps on how to do so:
2. when registering, make sure that you specify that you want to be on Team Cote
3. set yourself your own goal! each member of my team will have their own goal and at the walk, our total amount collected will be added to together to see how well we have done as a team!
4. the registration website gives you the option to make your own fundraising page like mine! This is entirely up to you but I made mine thinking about far away relatives and friends who might like to help! OR, you can start collecting donations and once I get the fliers from NKFI, you can write it down and submit the $$$ on the day of the walk. Either way works!
***FYI*** If I get enough people to go to the walk, I am going to look into making Team T-shirts once the event gets closer***
And for your READING PLEASURE!
A little info on IgA:
IgA nephropathy is a kidney disorder that occurs when IgA—a protein that helps us fight infections—settles in the kidneys. After many years, the IgA deposits may cause the kidneys to leak blood and sometimes protein in the urine. After 10 to 20 years with IgA nephropathy, the kidneys may show signs of damage. About 25 percent of adults with IgA nephropathy develop total kidney failure. Total kidney failure means the kidney damage is permanent. People with kidney failure need dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Kidney disease usually cannot be cured. When the kidneys are damaged, they cannot be repaired. Treatment focuses on slowing the disease and preventing complications.
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