I live in sunny southwest Florida. To say this summer has been hot would be an understatement. Feels-like temperatures have reached 110 degrees and forecasters are expecting this heat to last. Stepping outside my home in the mornings feels like stepping into a sauna some days. I am fortunate that I am able to drink plenty of water and I have a fan in my office to help keep me cool.

I know this isn’t possible for all of you. But if you are experiencing these extreme temperatures, I implore you to stay out of the heat as much as possible and keep your body temperature as cool as possible. Dialysis patients, because you have limits to your fluid intake, ask your doctor or nurse for tips on how to stay hydrated.

Here in the AAKP office, the summer is off to a good start. Preparations are moving full steam ahead for the 36th Annual AAKP National Convention. The Convention is being held in Denver, Colo., Sept. 3-5 at the Hyatt Regency Denver. We have several informative sessions scheduled, including Transplantation: Paired and Altruistic Donation, How to Have a Good Future with Kidney Disease, The CKD Friendly Diet and many more! Also, attendees will have several opportunities to interact with fellow kidney patients and health care professionals during the social events: First Time Attendee Luncheon, AAKP Board of Directors’ Welcome Reception, Welcoming Ceremonies and the Annual Banquet and Awards Ceremony. And we’ve left plenty of time throughout the weekend for you to explore the city of Denver.

Convention registration packages start at $90 for patients and family members, and $190 for health care professionals. One day registrations are also available starting at $25 each day. Call AAKP at 800-749-2257 or visit www.aakp.org/events/Convention/2009 for more information.

Recently, AAKP, in conjunction with the Immunosuppressive Drug Coalition – which consist of transplant patients, professionals and research foundations, asked that H.R. 1458, the Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act of 2009, be included in the Energy and Commerce Committee’s health reform package. This bill will enable more kidney patients to afford transplants and reduce the likelihood of organ rejection among transplant recipients, thereby saving the government money in the long term. The request was sent to Representative Henry Waxman (D-CA), Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce and Representative Joe Barton (R-TX). You can read the letter the Coalition sent to the Energy and Commerce Committee and other public policy initiatives AAKP is involved in in the Public Policy section of the AAKP Web site.

Kind reagrds,