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Alexandra Harrison-Flaxman—How a Transplant Recipient Became a Legislation Advocate

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“The passage of the Immuno Bill is not just a win for the patient community …” says Alexandra Harrison-Flaxman “… it’s a win because of the patient community.”

On December 22, 2020, the U.S. Senate passed S. 3353 – Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplants Patients Act of 2020 (The Immuno Bill).

Earlier, on December 8, 2020, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5534, which set up the Senate vote.

The bi-partisan passage of the Immuno Bill now awaits the President’s signature.

Getting the bill passed has been Alexandra’s (“Alex’s”) passion for several years now and she says she cried when watching both the House and Senate pass the legislation.

“I was thinking, ‘This is crazy,’ I’ve just been a part of enacting actual change for kidney-transplant recipients,” says Alex, 34.

Read Alexandra’s full story, here.

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How a Liquid Biopsy Helps Your Transplanted Kidney or Heart?

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Every buzzword has its beginning.

In early 2020, few had heard of “Social Distancing.” By March, however, “Social Distancing” had become part of the universal lexicon.

In the transplant community, it’s just a matter of time until “Liquid Biopsy” becomes the latest buzzword.

What is a Liquid Biopsy?

The liquid biopsy uses fragments from the blood to give information that is usually found from taking a solid biopsy. The science has been widely used in cancer diagnosis and management, replacing invasive sampling with a non-invasive blood test.

As cells undergo changes, injury, or natural death, their DNA fragments are released into the blood stream. These fragments are known as cell-free DNA (cfDNA),1 and they provide a continuous stream of information. In the case of cancer cells, a liquid biopsy is detecting the cfDNA coming from the tumor.

Read the full article, here.

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Does Timing Matter When Taking Anti-Rejection Medications for Your Transplanted Kidney or Heart?

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Having an organ transplant can feel like a new lease on life!

You find that you can suddenly do more of the things that you enjoy. However, new recipients are sometimes overwhelmed with all the requirements of post-transplant living.

Protecting your new gift requires some discipline and consistency. As a new transplant recipient, you become keenly aware of things like:

  • Water-intake levels
  • Urine-output measurements
  • Changes in weight
  • Blood-pressure levels
  • Blood-sugar levels

To maintain the health of your transplanted organ, it is important that you take your immunosuppressant (anti-rejection) medications, but also at the same times each day.

Anti-rejection medications help to tame your body’s ability to attack and potentially damage your transplanted organ. To accomplish this, however, anti-rejection medications need to be taken:

  • Every day
  • At the same times

Read the full article, here.

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Recipe: Butternut Squash Hash

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Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

  • 1 medium Butternut Squash, washed, seeded, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
  • 1 each red pepper, medium diced
  • 1 each green pepper, medium diced
  • 1 each yellow pepper, medium diced
  • 1/2 Sweet onion, medium Diced
  • 4 oz. weight Baby Bella Mushrooms, Sliced
  • 8 oz. Applewood Thick-cut Bacon, chopped medium diced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh sage, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • To taste Salt &Pepper

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 425ºF. Toss squash with a little olive oil, then add to a baking pan, cook for 30-45 or until squash is fork tender.
  2. Meanwhile in a sauté pan add bacon and cook until crispy. Then add peppers, onion, garlic and mushrooms, sauté for 2-3 minutes on medium-high heat.
  3. Remove squash from the oven and add to bacon mixture, add sage, thyme, salt and pepper. Sauté for an additional 2 minutes to combine.
  4. Serve and enjoy!

Recipe By: Chef Chloe Gould

https://caredx.com/patients-and-caregivers/our-transplant-journeys__trashed/butternut-squash-hash/

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Racial Equity in Kidney Transplant

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In this article, Dr. McCauley discusses how race and ethnicity use to effect ones chances of receiving a kidney transplant from a deceased donor, and how the allocation process has changed over the years. Dr. McCauley explains how one of the most notable changes was in philosophy. He will also share his opinion on remaining barriers in the system, as well as a hope for commitment to equity.

Read the full article by Dr. McCauley in UNOS Voices in Transplant: Perspectives from the donation and transplant community, in the link below.

The road to racial equity in kidney transplantation
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Kidneys in the Kitchen: Cultural Foods

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“This month’s episode focuses on how to adapt your culturally favorite foods into a kidney friendly diet. Registered Dietitian, Renee Fung, RD, CSR, LDN, discusses how she works with her patients to keep their favorite foods in the renal diet.”

Read the full recipe and watch the video by National Kidney Foundation of Illinois, here.

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