Last March, I wrote a blog titled, "My New Purpose." which I'm reprinting and adding to this blog. This year marks five years since our son Jarand passed away from Chronic Kidney Disease. Just today when my husband Randy and I were taking a walk, a neighbor shared that he had seen me on Hawaii News Now in a promotional for the Kidney Walk. Randy's sister flew in from Los Angeles to join us for the event after listening to this Rick Hamada podcast with Randy and Glen Hayashida, CEO of the National Kidney Foundation of Hawai`i. The Hawai`i Teacher Fellows were meeting that day and were unable to attend the Walk, but they took up a collection and made a donation to Team Jarand. I was touched.
The Kidney Walk is an opportunity to support the NKFH and to learn more about our kidneys and Chronic Kidney Disease. All along the walk, there are signs that share information about our kidneys; I learned a lot of facts by reading these signs. Since Jarand was diagnosed with CKD in January 2018, I have learned much about kidneys and their importance, continuously filtering 45 gallons of blood each day.. I am grateful that Hawai`i was the first state to implement the GFR (Glomecular Filtration Rate) which is a test to measure your kidney function. If you regularly take a blood test - I take one every 4-6 months - your doctor can let you know if he/she has concerns with your kidney function.
I am grateful for all the volunteers who helped to make this Kidney Walk a successful event. Organizations like the Kidney Foundation of Hawaii are constantly seeking funds to continue their work. I am grateful to all the volunteers, the sponsors, and the walkers who made this event a success.
I wrote this blog post in March 2022 after the first Kidney Walk last year.
When I was preparing to retire in the summer of 2018 after 45 years as an educator, I wasn't really sure what I would do with the rest of my life. I knew that I would continue to follow education issues but I did not have any specific plans. Then our world turned upside-down. Our middle son, Jarand, was diagnosed with Stage 5 Chronic Kidney Disease in January and a scant five months later in May 2018, he passed away peacefully in his sleep. He was 38 years old with the whole world ahead of him (Aloha, Jarand) I was devastated.
It was Jarand's passing that that gave me my purpose, post-retirement. My husband Randy and I made it a point to learn what we could about CKD and to share our message with others, especially with young people like Jarand. When I wrote my first book (Leading with Aloha: From the Pineapple Fields to the Principal's Office), I donated a portion of the proceeds to the National Kidney Foundation of Hawai`i for education programs, and when Randy and I spoke with groups to promote my book, we always ended by sharing about Jarand and telling those in attendance that they needed to take care of themselves so they can take care of others. The message resonated, but I felt that it was just for that moment. Without more information, people don't necessarily make changes in their lifestyle that could lead to better health.
This is why Randy and I were honored to be asked to serve on the NKFH Kidney Walk 2022 committee to bring awareness to this disease. It was a first-time event, and the goal was to raise funds for programs to educate the public and to provide support for those who were struggling with kidney disease. We sent out letters to friends and family and invited them to contribute and to participate in the Kidney Walk. We were able share Jarand's story via a video produced by a good friend, Marvin Buenconsejo, and we continue to tell people about Chronic Kidney Disease.
The NKFH Kidney Walk took place yesterday, and it was a great success. The number of participants as well as the amount collected for NKFH exceeded expectations. I was pleased to see so many people of all ages walking the 1.7 mile route and visiting the booths to learn more about taking care of their health. I saw several groups with shirts that were made for the Walk, and I talked to a young mom and asked her who she was walking for. She said she was the one with CKD Stage 5 and that she was undergoing dialysis. She recognized me from the video and thanked me for sharing the message about CKD. I wished her the best; she has two young children and my hope is that more people like her can live full lives despite their CKD.
I know that much more needs to be done, and Randy and I will continue to share the message about Jarand and Chronic Kidney Disease. I feel that every time we share Jarand's story, we have the opportunity to make a difference for other families. That is why I continue to support the National Kidney Foundation of Hawai`i. I believe that Jarand lives on if others hear his story and decide to take better care of their health. That is my hope.
If you'd like more information, visit the National Kidney Foundation website at kidney.org or check out the articles below.
Chronic Kidney Disease Takes Heavy Toll in Hawaii
Kidney Disease: The Basics