Spreading awareness of a genetic disease
Posted by Jaclyn Carlozzi
As seen in Issue 19 of The Simmons Voice:
Spreading awareness of a genetic disease By Jackie Carlozzi
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a common genetic disease that is not well known. According to the PKD Foundation Web site, one in every 500 people has it and 12.5 million people worldwide are struggling with it today.
Women such as Beth Leven, coordinator of the Boston PKD walk, Lisa Ostrow, accomplished artist and mother, and Kathy Curran, news reporter for WBZ, have all been affected by PKD through personal experience or as a witness to their loved ones struggles. These three women were kind enough to share their personal stories in order to raise awareness to the disease that has remained unacknowledged for so long. According to Leven, PKD is a “debilitating illness that reduces the function of the kidneys due to the growth of large cysts frequently causing the kidneys to grow to the size of a football.”
According to the National Kidney Foundation, the kidney acts as a filtr ... more »
Posted: May 16, 2008 5:14 pm | 0 comments
Tags: Health and Sciences, PKD, The Voice