NKF Serving Greater New York

“My name is Dawn Miele and my brother, Lenny, had kidney disease. He lived with the disease for many years and unfortunately passed away on September 23, 2024, one day before his 47th birthday. Seeing him go through treatment was very challenging. It was hard to see him tired and limited in what he could do as he was such a strong person. He was the strongest person I ever met.

 

“I got E. coli when I was 7 years old, which led to stage 3 kidney failure. I then had to be on dialysis for a few months.
My kidneys began to function enough to work on their own. My kidneys were still functioning at the same level for 8 years, then my family and doctors agreed we should start the process to get on the transplant waitlist.
I did my evaluation and was active on the list for 6 days when they found a perfect match with a deceased donor. I could not be more thankful for the fact that I only had to wait 6 days. I am now 15 years old. I am doing amazing 2 months post-transplant and can’t thank God enough!!”

My connection to kidney health began the day I was born with a rare condition known as unilateral renal agenesis, meaning that I was born with one kidney, which is a congenital condition that affects roughly 1 in every 2,000 births. At the time, a pediatric nephrologist reassured my parents that one kidney is enough to live a healthy life, though his calm tone masked the complexity of my condition.

Yield: Serves 6
Prep Time: 20 mins / Cook Time: 20 mins

Fluffy pumpkin pancakes with low sodium, low potassium, and low fat. Great for a CKD and diabetes-friendly breakfast.
 

Ingredients:

• 1¼ cups all purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 3 individual packets, Stevia
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
• 2 cups Pumpkin Puree, salt-free
• 2 cups rice milk
• 2 egg whites

Yield: Serves 30
Prep Time: 45 mins / Cook Time: 60 mins

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Red Seedless Grapes, each grape sliced in half
• 1⅓ cups Walnut Halves, chopped into small pea-size pieces
• 1¼ cups Pomegranate Infused Ocean Spray Dried Cranberries, 1- 6-ounce package
• 4 stalks Celery, chopped into quarter-inch pieces
• 7 medium-sized Gala Apples skin on
• 8 fluid ounce bottle of Maple Grove Farms of Vermont Fat-Free Cranberry Balsamic Dressing

Yield: Serves 8
Prep Time: 45 mins / Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients:

• 20 oz 99% lean ground turkey breast
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 2 tablespoons minced cilantro
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2½ cups coleslaw mix
• 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
• 16 frozen spring roll pastry wrappers
• Non-stick cooking spray