March 10 marks World Kidney Day
Posted Mar 3, 2022 08:30:00 PM.
You'll be hearing a lot more about kidneys this week and next.
March 10 marks World Kidney Day, a day that highlights just how common and harmful chronic kidney disease is.
The Kidney Foundation said four million Canadians live with it every day. That's one in 10 Canadians.
Cristina Howorun, a reporter with CityNews Toronto, has been living with a new kidney since 2019, and knows that stat first hand after being diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease.
“When I was diagnosed, I only had between six and eight per cent kidney function,” she said. “I had no energy, I had very high stroke-level blood pressure. I couldn't sleep, I scratched so much that I would bleed.”
Howorun's cousin donated a kidney, ending her 12-hours of dialysis every day.
She's been feeling great every since.
“I was very lucky,” Howorun said. “I have a wonderful beautiful, courageous cousin, Christine.”
“She knew I needed a transplant, and knew there was a wait list of five to seven years for me.”
