A Recipe for Connection, Conversation and Living with CKD: Meet @kamama94

Jun 5, 2020 | Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Comments (18)

Member Spotlights feature interviews with fellow Connect members. Learn more about members you’ve connected with and some you haven’t met yet. Nominate a member you think should share the spotlight.

Meet Kamama94

ROSEMARY: What brought you to Mayo Clinic Connect? What motivates you to take part in the community?

@kamama94: I learned I had CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease) when lab work showed a greater and more rapid drop in kidney function than is to be expected as part of normal aging. Follow-up imaging revealed a completely blocked and atrophied left kidney. I searched the internet and found the Mayo Clinic Connect website where wonderful support groups of others who have chronic kidney disease exchange information about their own experiences and offer one another encouragement.

ROSEMARY: What about Connect makes you feel comfortable to share and to be open with the community?

@kamama94: The willingness of others to share is reassuring.

ROSEMARY: What groups do you participate in?

@kamama94: I follow and share in the Kidney & Bladder Group discussions about kidney disease, particularly renal diets for CKD.

ROSEMARY: Tell us about a meaningful moment on Connect. 

@kamama94: Meeting others with CKD inspired me to write a recipe book for CKD patients who are not yet on dialysis. One of my happiest moments was when I was allowed to share some of those kidney-friendly recipes and nutritional facts with other members, many of whom said they found the collection quite helpful. 

I'm currently working on a new collection of recipes calling for foods that CKD patients once were told to avoid. With recent changes in growing, producing, and manufacturing, many of these now can be added to a renal diet in small amounts.

ROSEMARY: What surprised you the most about Connect?

@kamama94: The friendliness, the lack of conflict, the give-and-take of information – qualities that are rare on many other online chat groups. But courtesy, lack of judgment and acceptance of others is the norm in the Mayo Clinic Connect groups and discussions.

ROSEMARY: What energizes you, or how do you find balance in your life?

@kamama94: Being able to share my research with others is a plus. Paying it forward is important to me, and so is being able to receive what others have to offer. Also, a sense of humor and lots of laughter are absolutely vital.

ROSEMARY: Tell us about your favorite pastime or activity.

@kamama94: I enjoy learning many new things related both to my current medical concerns and to my former career as a nurse, and this includes nutrition and cooking, especially those dishes based on my Cherokee, Powhatan, and Irish heritage. I also have a second career as a published novelist.

ROSEMARY: Do you have a favorite quote, life motto, personal mantra?

@kamama94: Pay it forward. What you give away can come back to you tenfold.

ROSEMARY: What food can you simply not resist?

@kamama94: Chocolate is a no-no, or at least a “seldom-seldom,” for most people with CKD. Because I have no sense of moderation when it comes to chocolate, I don’t allow it in my house!

ROSEMARY: Puppies or kittens?

@kamama94: Both, but I adore my service dog Buckey, a rescued black “labra-hound,” who alerts me to wacky blood sugars and incipient respiratory problems.

See more Member Spotlights.

Interested in more newsfeed posts like this? Go to the About Connect: Who, What & Why blog.

@kamama94, Thank you for allowing me to interview you in this spotlight. It has been apparent to me that your participation on Mayo Connect has provided a voice of experience for others. This moment in the spotlight is one that you deserve!

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Thank you for your willingness to help us get to know you, @kamama94. You've really made your kidney disorder a mission to help others through recipes, what a great way to give back to the CKD community. Of course, I love the picture of Buckey, he looks like a great friend.

Thanks to you, @rosemarya, for being the interviewer for this remarkable Member of Connect!

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@hopeful33250

Thank you for your willingness to help us get to know you, @kamama94. You've really made your kidney disorder a mission to help others through recipes, what a great way to give back to the CKD community. Of course, I love the picture of Buckey, he looks like a great friend.

Thanks to you, @rosemarya, for being the interviewer for this remarkable Member of Connect!

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Teresa, the honor is mine. Just remind everyone ingredients and nutirent amounts can change so always coompare label information to recipe values.

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@kamama94 Very interesting interview . I,m looking forward to the kidney diets as to what to avoid since I,m starting to have some problems . Nice interview Rosemarya

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@lioness

@kamama94 Very interesting interview . I,m looking forward to the kidney diets as to what to avoid since I,m starting to have some problems . Nice interview Rosemarya

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There's a pdf posted in the Kidney And Bladder discussions with kidney friendly recipes. One of the mentors or admins might be able to locate it for you. Please remember that some information, such as phosphorus values, is sketchy or missing since phosphorus isn't required to be listed on food labels. Also, manufacturers change ingredients and amounts of ingredients and this changes nutritional values. I hope anyone using my recipes will compare my figures to food labels to be sure amounts have not substantially changed.

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@kamama94

Teresa, the honor is mine. Just remind everyone ingredients and nutirent amounts can change so always coompare label information to recipe values.

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You have certainly become knowledgable in this area, @kamama94. How great is that!

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@kamama94

There's a pdf posted in the Kidney And Bladder discussions with kidney friendly recipes. One of the mentors or admins might be able to locate it for you. Please remember that some information, such as phosphorus values, is sketchy or missing since phosphorus isn't required to be listed on food labels. Also, manufacturers change ingredients and amounts of ingredients and this changes nutritional values. I hope anyone using my recipes will compare my figures to food labels to be sure amounts have not substantially changed.

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@kamama94 Thank you I will look it up take care be safe

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@lioness

@kamama94 Very interesting interview . I,m looking forward to the kidney diets as to what to avoid since I,m starting to have some problems . Nice interview Rosemarya

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@hopeful33250 Teresa can you help me find the PDF in the Kidney ,bladder ?

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@kamama94:- It's very nice to meet you! Thank you for sharing so much with us. This is what Connect is all about. I look forward to reading your pdf- What is the name of your book? I'm a mentor for Lung Cancer and health.

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@lioness

@hopeful33250 Teresa can you help me find the PDF in the Kidney ,bladder ?

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@lioness, Here is the discussion where you will find conversations where members are asking and sharing about how they are managing their kidney health. As you review the discussion, you will be able to read more about @kamama94 and how she has navigated her own kidney health journey. She has shared ideas and also her recipes there, along with the pdf information.

Stage 3 Kidney Disease and Diet: What can I eat?
Click on this blue link - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/3rd-stage-kidney-disease/

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