Kidney Walk returns to Chatham with a new energy

The Kidney Walk is making a return to Chatham on Saturday and some women who have walked the walk are leading the way.

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Current walk ambassador Angela Stewart and in-coming ambassador Shyleene Willson are excited to see the event returning to Chatham’s Kingston Park for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We have a new energy and some exciting surprises for those who are attending,” said Stewart.

There’s also been an effort to include all of Chatham-Kent with pop-up events held in Dresden and Wallaceburg to promote the walk, which is open to everyone in Chatham-Kent, she said.

Registration begins at 8:30 am with the walk starting at 10 am More details are available at www.kidneywalk.ca.

Both women know the trials and tribulations of kidney disease.

Stewart, 50, was born with polycystic kidney disease, which left multiple cysts on her kidneys

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“By the time my kidneys failed at age 48, they were approximately the size of a small football pressing on my lungs,” she said.

Stewart went on dialysis for three or four months as her dad, Brad Stewart, was preparing to donate a kidney to her.

She had a kidney transplant on July 20, 2022, but admitted initially being “very apprehensive” about accepting her 74-year-old father’s kidney.

“I was worried about his health and I did not want to take any life away from him,” Stewart said.

But as her condition worsened, she decided to go head and “see where fate takes us.”

Stewart said according to his father “he feels absolutely no different.”

She also came through the transplant well.

“I probably have too much energy,” Stewart laughed.

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Her favorite part is she can eat a wide variety of foods again, she said.

However, Willson, 28, is still facing a battle after being diagnosed with IgA nephropathy (Berger disease) at age 20 that causes kidney inflammation.

She feels tired all the time, the young mother said.

While many believe being a mother causes her fatigue and many suggest she take a nap or have coffee, Willson said, “It doesn’t work that way.”

The advancement of her condition causes her great concern.

She’s being treated with different medications, including a trial medication that seems to be working well.

“But, they gave me a prediction of a 10-year-timeframe for needing dialysis,” Willson said.

She admitted initially thinking she was prepared for this eventually.

“But, after talking to people (on dialysis), I’m like, ‘Oh my God, I’m going to be exhausted.’” Willson said.

However, she is pressing on as she prepares to take on the challenge of being walk ambassador for 2025.

Willson admitted, “I’m a little scared, but I’ll figure it out.”

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