Why I Walk

Since I learned I had PKD I’ve been an avid follower of the PKD Foundation. I saw in a recent newsletter that they host a Walk for PKD in more than 50 cities across the nation. As I kept reading, one sentence of the email stood out to me “you can help put a treatment within reach”. The Walk for PKD has raised over $20 million since 2000 to help take steps toward a future without PKD. I immediately knew this was something I wanted to be involved in and saved the date for the New York City Walk for PKD on October 26, 2013.

The most important question is why am I doing this walk? I am walking in loving memory of my Grandfather, in support of my Mother and Uncle, as a piece of my journey for me and for hope for my unborn children who many someday have this disease. The second most important question is how do I get involved? You can get involved by joining my team ‘Faith, Hope, Love’. Involvement comes in many forms whether it’s through prayer, donations or steps. I am so honored that some of the closest people to me in my life will be walking with me and can’t wait for October. You can “walk” with me too, here is my team page:

http://walkforpkd.kintera.org/newyorkcity/faithhopelove

Team: Faith, Hope, Love

I took a page from the Bible as inspiration for my team name. One of my favorite verses of all time is 1 Corinthians 13:13 “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” I have found this verse applicable at many times in my life for many things. Today this verse sums up my PKD journey in three short words.

(Faith) trusting in Him.

This diagnosis has been the greatest test of faith of my life. I have faith and I am believing for healing and for slow progression of this disease. I have the God can move mountains kind of faith He spoke about in Mark 11:23-24 “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

(Hope) never give up.

There is no current cure or miracle drug for PKD but I want to see one in my lifetime. I want to have children some day in the future and I cannot fathom bringing children into this world and passing this disease along to them without hope. Hope is not an option or a coping mechanism of some sort; it is how I choose to live.

(Love) the greatest of these.

Words cannot explain the feeling of overwhelming support I have received from everyone since I went “public” with this diagnosis. I have no shortage of wonderful people in my life who love me and I am so grateful for all of their support. 1 Corinthians 13:13 acknowledges that the greatest of these three is love and I couldn’t agree more. Without love there would be nothing to fight for, I would lose hope and my faith would be shaken. 

Sincerely,

Chardonnay

What’s in my glass…

An emotional glass of Chardonnay tonight as I once again tried to put into words my feelings about this disease.

A delicious glass from my favorite Californian vineyard-- Koehler. This bottle marks the last of the case I bought when David and I went out there and visited this vineyard a year ago.