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About Hannah Bracamonte

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So far Hannah Bracamonte has created 602 blog entries.

How Are You?

2025-10-08T14:02:24-04:00October 8th, 2025|Categories: eNews, Mental Health, Physical Health, Quality of Life, Staying Healthy, Stress Management|

How are you? The usual answers are: “I am okay” or “I am fine”. But, how are you really doing? Are you sad? Are you afraid? Are you depressed? Are you feeling anxious? Are you angry? Are you happy? Let us focus on emotional well-being. What is emotional well-being? Many scholars believe that emotional well-being refers to a state of mental health characterized by positive emotions, resilience, and the ability to manage one’s thoughts and feelings in a healthy way. In other words, try to focus more on the positive and less on the negative. Negative thoughts and emotions can affect [...]

DPC Advocacy Day 2025: When Patients Lead, Policy Listens

2025-10-10T15:58:59-04:00October 1st, 2025|Categories: Quality of Life, Resources, Staying Healthy, The Kidney Citizen, Treatment|

Yolonda Brisbane, DPC Grassroots Manager From July 12–15, 2025, the nation’s capital was infused with a powerful sense of purpose and unity as Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC) welcomed 36 extraordinary Patient Ambassadors—dialysis patients, transplant recipients, and family members of those living with or lost to End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)—to Washington, D.C. for our Annual Congressional Advocacy Day. Our time together began with preparation and purpose. Patient Ambassadors entered a space of belonging that offered state-of-the-art meeting rooms and delicious kidney-friendly meals—nourishing both body and spirit. This setting became the heart of meaningful conversations, new friendships, and genuine camaraderie. [...]

Gratinado de Calabacín y Calabaza

2025-10-10T15:45:35-04:00October 1st, 2025|Categories: Recipes, Spanish Materials, Staying Healthy, The Kidney Citizen|

Esta receta fue adaptada por Collette Powers, MA, RD, LDN, ACSM EP-C, a partir de Our best summer casserole recipes, abril 2017, Taste of Home. Tiempo de preparación: 25 min Tiempo de cocción: 10 min Tiempo total: 35 min Porciones: 6 Ingredientes: 2 cucharadas aceite de oliva extra virgen 2 calabacines medianos, cortados en rodajas de ¼ de pulgada (aproximadamente 2 tazas) 1½ calabaza amarilla mediana, cortada en rodajas de ¼ de pulgada (aproximadamente 2 tazas) 2 chalotes, picados finamente ½ cucharadita orégano seco ¼ cucharadita pimienta negra molida gruesa 4 dientes de ajo, picados finamente 1 taza pan rallado [...]

From Flatline to Front Lines: A Dialysis Warrior’s Fight for Every Patient’s Future

2025-10-10T15:18:18-04:00October 1st, 2025|Categories: Dialysis, Quality of Life, Support, The Kidney Citizen|

Arthur Hill, DPC Board Member “When Death Couldn't Stop Me, I Knew I Had Work to Do” When I first learned I had Goodpasture's disease – a rare condition that would forever change my life – I had no idea I was about to embark on a journey that would reveal depths of strength I never knew I possessed. September 2010 marked the beginning of what I now call my awakening. Despite feeling unwell, I pushed forward with determination, traveling to Mississippi for work. My body was sending me urgent signals, but I was too focused on my responsibilities [...]

Choosing Life: My Journey with Kidney Disease

2025-10-10T15:14:07-04:00October 1st, 2025|Categories: Dialysis, Mental Health, Quality of Life, Support, The Kidney Citizen|

Maria Robinson, DPC Board Member I’ve lived with kidney disease for most of my life. Nearly 30 years ago, I began my dialysis journey. Like so many patients, I was not fully prepared for such drastic change. I had to give up my dream job in order to take care of myself. I felt like I was losing the life I had worked so hard to build. Yet, over time, I realized that kidney failure was not the end of my life, but rather the beginning of a new one. It’s one filled with challenges, yes, but also filled [...]

Kidney Failure and Fighting for Our Cause

2025-10-10T15:01:20-04:00October 1st, 2025|Categories: Dialysis, Kidney Transplant, Support, The Kidney Citizen, Treatment|

Adam Goldstein, DPC Board Member When I was 19, I had my whole life planned out, but cancer had other plans. I survived, but not unscathed. The chemotherapy that saved my life also damaged my kidneys. I was diagnosed with kidney failure and began dialysis soon after. For years, I was determined to push forward and live “normally.” I got a transplant. It gave me back a sense of independence, a sense that maybe life would stop orbiting around hospitals and lab results. But as many of you know, a transplant isn’t always a cure. Mine eventually failed. And [...]

Living Well with Kidney Disease

2025-10-10T14:57:01-04:00October 1st, 2025|Categories: Dialysis, Immunizations, Lifestyle, Medication, Mental Health, Nutrition, Physical Health, Quality of Life, Staying Healthy, The Kidney Citizen|

Velma Scantlebury MD, FACS, GCM, DPC Education Center Health Care Consultant In the United States, there are over 35 million persons who have chronic kidney disease, which accounts for one in every seven adults. Unfortunately, many millions also have chronic kidney disease and are not aware of the diagnosis. However, having chronic kidney disease may mean having to alter some of your lifestyle habits to protect your kidney function, but many of us must make sacrifices to stay healthy: limiting fats and high calorie drinks, increasing vegetables and healthy greens, and engaging in regular physical activity. However, with hypertension [...]

DPC’s 2025 State Advocacy Wins

2025-10-10T14:51:48-04:00October 1st, 2025|Categories: Costs for Treatment, Dialysis, Kidney Transplant, Resources, The Kidney Citizen|

Elizabeth Lively, DPC Eastern Region Advocacy Director Pamela Zielske, DPC Western Region Advocacy Director DPC achieved key state wins for ESRD patients as several states passed Medigap premium protections during the 2025 session, with legislation in additional states still in play. In addition, several states passed “birthday rule” bills, which aim to allow more flexibility and patient choice for individuals with Medicare Supplement plans by providing a window for Medigap enrollees to change their plans without medical underwriting. As insurers price their plans differently, enrollees may find a more affordable premium for the same plan from a [...]

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