Kidney Kids is a parent-driven non-for-profit organisation set up to meet the needs of parents of children with kidney disease or an abnormality of the urinary tract system.
The group’s aim is to provide the best life possible for kidney kids, to offer the best support and information and to educate all New Zealanders on the early warning signs of Kidney and Urinary Tract Disease.
Kidney Kids is one of the first places parents can turn to when they find their child has a kidney disorder. It’s a group where parents can receive emotional support and information from parents who have been there. A group where parents can find an advocate to help them in their dealings with agencies providing the services for their children.
What does it do?
Kidney Kids provides information on the children’s conditions and an educational pack offering more information to parents on what the kidneys do and how they work, as well as outlining what support is available in the community for them.
The group is able to provide hospital visiting in most of the main hospital areas around NZ. For urgent advice or support there is peer telephone support service available 24/7 from a nurse who is also a parent with over 26 years’ experience in dealing with kidney related illnesses and associated problems.
On a lighter note, Kidney Kids holds Christmas Parties in most areas around New Zealand and organises social activities and other ways in which parents can meet each other. These are either in their own community or in educational situations where they can share and learn about the problems associated with their child’s condition.
An annual camp is organised for children and young adults who are seriously ill, in end-stage, or who have had a kidney transplant, or who have serious kidney disease.
If needed, Kidney Kids advocates for families at appointments.
The group also networks within the community and with the renal team at Starship Hospital.
To make the public more aware of Kidney Kids, the group features at Parent and Child shows around NZ.
How is it funded?
Kidney Kids receives funding from trusts and lottery welfare grants. The group conducts activities that produce funds at some of the Parent and Child shows around New Zealand and also receives donations from Rotary Clubs, Lions Clubs and other organisations.
How can I get their help?
You can contact Kidney Kids by phoning 0800 215 437 any time or by emailing office@kidneykids.org.nz
How much does it cost?
They don’t charge a membership fee and all their activities are usually free. There may be the occasional small cost if funding is not available for a particular service. Each new family is given an information pack on their child’s condition for free when they join.
Link to the Kidney Kids website
This is a bright and funky site with comprehensive renal information pages and guides to living with kidney disease. There are newsletters to download for kids as well as adults and there are personal stories shared. The photo galleries show how much fun the kids have on Kidney Kids camps and on Koru Care trips. There is also a photo page with information about the Kidney Kids patron – Jonah Lomu.
