JAN201~1 - KIDNEY QUIPS NEWSLETTER

January, 2010

Volume 9, Issue 1

Quick Kidney Quips

 

CONNECTING THOSE WITHIN THE SASKATCHEWAN RENAL COMMUNITY

Happy New Year!  I hope that you and those you love had a restful holiday season.  Thank you for your continued support of The Kidney Foundation of Canada Saskatchewan Branch!

                                                                                                                           Kim Lytle-Manager, Provincial Programs

 

Ministry of Health Announces New Tobacco Reduction Measures for Saskatchewan*

 

The Ministry of Health is investing $1 million per year for three years for a comprehensive tobacco strategy for Saskatchewan with particular focus on protecting children and youth. As part of the government's strategy for a healthier province, new legislation has today been introduced to:

-Prohibit smoking in a vehicle when a person under the age of 16 is present;

-Prohibit tobacco use on school grounds and smoking in enclosed common spaces of multi-unit dwellings;

-Prohibit tobacco sales in pharmacies;

-Prohibit the sale of flavoured mini cigars;

-Prohibit tobacco or tobacco-related products from being visible to the public from outside of a retail premise;

-Prohibit the use of outdoor signs that advertise or promote tobacco or tobacco-related products; and

-Add regulatory making authority to: create smoke-free spaces around doorways, windows or air intakes of enclosed public places; create regulations for indoor signs that indicate the price of tobacco and tobacco-related products at a retail premises; and exempt prescribed signs and items from the restrictions on tobacco advertising and promotion.

"Although Saskatchewan's tobacco use rates have stabilized over the last two to three years, our rates remain high," Health Minister Don McMorris said. "We are committed to reducing tobacco use in this province. We know tobacco use is a significant cause of preventable death in Canada and we want our residents to have long, healthy and productive lives.

 

"I have asked the ministry to examine options for tobacco reduction initiatives that support the goals of prevention, cessation and protection. Discussions with stakeholders have been ongoing since the budget was announced to develop a co-ordinated provincial tobacco strategy for Saskatchewan."

Other priority actions for the strategy are being determined through discussions with key partners.

 

For more information visit www.health.gov.sk.ca

 

Smoking: a risk factor for progression of chronic kidney disease and for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in renal patients*

 

Stephan R. Orth^*, and Stein I. Hallan

Correspondence: Dr. Stephan R. Orth, Bahnhofstrasse 9, D-83043 Bad Aibling, Germany. Phone: 0049-170-2311948; Fax: 0049-08061-37925; E-mail: stephan.orth@gmx.net

Although it is beyond any doubt that smoking is the number one preventable cause of death in most countries, smoking as an independent progression factor in renal disease has been questioned against the background of evidence-based criteria. This is because information from large, randomized, prospective studies that investigate the effects of smoking on renal function in healthy individuals as well as in patients with primary or secondary renal disease are lacking. Since 2003, a substantial number of clinical and experimental data concerning the adverse renal effects of smoking have been published, including large, prospective, population-based, observational studies. These more recent data together with evidence from experimental studies clearly indicate that smoking is a relevant risk factor, conferring a substantial increase in risk for renal function deterioration. This review summarizes the present knowledge about the renal risks of smoking as well as the increased cardiovascular risk caused by smoking in patients with chronic kidney disease. The conclusion is that ^{smoking is an important renal risk factor, and nephrologists have to invest more efforts to motivate patients to stop smoking.}

http://cjasn.asnjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/3/1/226

 

Smoking not only increases the risk of kidney disease, but it also contributes to deaths from strokes and heart attacks in people with chronic kidney disease.

http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/Kudiseases/pubs/yourkidneys/

The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse

 

How can smoking affect chronic kidney disease?*

 

Smoking is a major risk factor that can make kidney disease worse. Heavy smoking, in particular, will work against you if you are trying to keep your kidney function for as long as possible.

The effects of smoking in diabetic kidney disease are well documented. Diabetics who smoke tend to develop kidney disease earlier and lose kidney function more quickly than diabetics who do not smoke, or who quit smoking. Smoking has also been shown to hasten the progression of other types of kidney disease. In addition, smoking increases high blood pressure and cardiovascular risks, two health problems that often occur along with kidney disease.

You’ll be taking better care of yourself if you can reduce the amount you smoke — or better yet, quit altogether. If you are willing to quit smoking, talk to your doctor about sustained-release buproprion (Zyban®) and nicotine replacement therapy, as well as counseling or support to help you quit.

http://www.davita.com/kidney-disease/the-basics/a/94

 

Upcoming Events with The Kidney Foundation – Mark Your Calendar!

 

Here are the upcoming events for The Kidney Foundation of Canada, SK Branch.  Please call toll free

1-888-664-8588 ext. 23 or email klytle@kidney.sk.ca for further information:

 

q       March 11^th – World Kidney Day

q       March 18^th-22^nd - Annual Door to Door Campaign:  Donate on-line at www.kidney.ca or call 1-888-664-8588 to volunteer!

q       April 18^th – Saskatoon Give the Gift of Life Fun Run and Walk – We are looking for individuals to sit on the planning committee for this inaugural event.  Gain great experience, great fun and great friends!  Call Lynn at 664-8588 ext. 26 for further information or email lshiplack@kidney.sk.ca. 

q       April 25^th - Living Well with Kidney Disease Provincial Conference at the Radisson Inn Saskatoon.  Call Kim at 1-888-664-8588 ext.23 to have a brochure mailed to you when available.  Watch for details!

q       September – Regina Give the Gift of Life Fun Run and Walk – We are looking for individuals to sit on the planning committee for this inaugural event.  Gain great experience, great fun and great friends!  Call Joan at 306.347.0711 for further information or email jkortje@kidney.sk.ca . 

*Please note that The Kidney Foundation of Canada Saskatchewan Branch does not support or endorse any website, article or position listed in this newsletter.  It is meant to provide information to assist individuals to make informed decisions.  If you have further questions or wish to subscribe please email klytle@kidney.sk.ca .  For information on how we respect your privacy see http://www.kidney.sk.ca/home/terms/privacy.html .

Robin Michael Kempton-Jones - December 15, 1964 - June 13. 2002

Robin Michael Kempton-Jones

In loving memory of my beautiful son,
deceased at age 37 years - Kingston, Ontario CANADA

Classified a "Suspicious Homicide" by Kingston Police Service investigators, Robin Michael's death was attributed to "Natural Cause" according to the Coroner's Report. The report also commented that "an extra dose of HALDOL" had been administered earlier in the day . . by a caregiver before Robin Michael a person with epilepsy was left alone in a hot bath tub when his caregiver went for a smoke break.
15 minutes later Robin Michael was discovered to be V.S.A. (vital signs absent) - lifeless.
On Christmas Eve, an autopsy report prepared by the Forensics Laboratory at Toronto revealed that without exception Robin Michael's internal organs were viable; that although living with epilepsy since infancy, his dentures had remained in his mouth during bathing and subsequently during resuscitation attempts by a Kingston EMT.
At a later date a "whistle blower" contacted family to reveal the occurence of 3 other cases of "Suspicious Homicide" within a period of 6 months in other group homes operated by the same Kingston organisation responsible for Robin Michael's care.
On a family visit in May 2002 to Kingston, Robin Michael had suffered a mental breakdown disclosing that he'd been a victim of repeated sexual assault by a male caregiver in his Saskatchewan group home. Taken to hospital for treatment at Kingston he was committed for 9 months to Johnson Three, the mental health facility of Hopital Hotel Dieu.
Only after hospital administration declared Robin Michael would be discharged as a "homeless street person" did Ontario Government Minister John Baird intervene to arrange appropriate placement in the group home where he died suddenly less than 12 months later.
On Fathers' Day, Peter Mason - Bishop of Ontario officiated at Robin Michael's funeral, followed by cremation and he rests for eternity in Rideau Memorial Gardens at Dollard des Ormeaux QC.
Appearing before Provincial Court Judge Barrett Douglas Halderman in Melfort, Saskatchewan the assailant , a 19 year old male resident of Chelan, SK was given a "Conditional" sentence of 9 months and he walked.
After a long battle with cancer, Judge Halderman died on January 2nd, 2009.
In a hometown Memorial Service for Robin Michael at Spiritwood SK in September 2002, Karl Kwiatkowski, MLA Carrot River Valley SK gave the eulogy.
A dear family friend and formerly General Manager of Porcupine Opportunities Program, Karl Kwiatkowski had been closely involved with Robin Michael's placement and care since July 1995 at Porcupine Plain, SK.
The youngest mayor ever elected in Saskatchewan, and CEO of SARC, Karl left P.O.P following a successful campaign as Candidate for the Saskatchewan Party to serve in the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly.
A few months after Robin Michael's Memorial Service, Mr Kwiatkowski's sudden death was announced by Rev. Lorne Calvert, Premier of Saskatchewan.
On the day of Robin Michael's interment at Dollard des Ormeaux, his father Michael attended at Witchekan Lake First Nation to stand before a gravesite as his foster son Dennis Fineday was laid to rest following sudden death. Dennis' birth father the late Edward Fineday Chief of Witchekan Lake First Nation, Senator FSIN and Michael had been friends for life.
In February that same year, cancer took the life of Michael's partner Mary Douhaniuk at Salmon Arms, BC and her cremains were interred in a family plot at Maria Hilf, SK.
A distinguished Public Health Nurse, Mary had served many years with Canada Health. She had been Nurse in Charge at Iglulik, NWT (Nunavut) where she and Michael met in 1979 before moving south to Saskatchewan.

As the last man standing, it seems to fall upon me to ensure this story is told. Take from it what you will.

Matthew 18:6 (New International Version):
But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

There is a poem that keeps Robin Michael in our heart:
http://www.philolexian.com/philo/Trees.pdf

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