IMPORTANT: please create an account to see all three updates. especially the food protocol and recipe ideas, as these are very pertinent to her needs CALENDAR INFO: If you scroll to the bottom of the page, you will see a calendar with food options available for sign up. The dates are arbitrary, it is simply the only way it would allow us to use the sign up feature. You can see the beginning of the list by starting at Jan 17. ******* Dear friends, Thank you for the tremendous outpouring of support and love for Tess and our family as she is navigating an intense health crisis. Words are inadequate to express our gratitude, and even if we had the words, time is in high demand as we try to support her. She was diagnosed with lupus nephritis stage four among other things (full update can be read on her caring bridge page here: https://www.caringbridge.org/site/d4e097fb-c495-11ef-badd-e91854da5e33?utm_source=website_share&utm_medium=share_button&utm_term=&utm_content=link_share_button&utm_campaign=private_home_page) She is now on a heavy regimen of medications as a life-saving intervention. Over time, they will do damage to her body and baseline health, so she hopes to be tapered off of them and find alternative means to reverse organ damage. In the meantime, her diet is an important part of managing lupus flares and avoiding further stress on already compromised organs. Many have asked to help with meals and supplies. It has taken us a week to put this together, because her current dietary needs are very restrictive and care is very involved as she remains totally dependent on help. We do have hope that she can eventually reincorporate certain foods back into her diet over time and have full independence. But for now, I am including information on her dietary protocol and some recipe ideas, if you feel led to contribute in some way. The main requirement is that meals be low in phosphorus, potassium and sodium. She needs protein and can have wild-caught cod, salmon, lean chicken and lean beef or plants that are high in protein, but plant-based protein like beans and nuts are easier on the kidneys than animal proteins like meat and dairy products. The supplies list is not meant for any specific date. They are just things we will be using on a regular basis and thought it might be easier for some folks to help that way instead of having to make a whole meal. Meals or items can be dropped off with us in downtown Abingdon to make it more convenient for everyone. We live very close to Kroger at 416A Bradley Street. I can be reached at: 276-698-7349. We will deliver them to my parent's home where she will be staying. If ordering non-perishables from online, you can mail directly to Tess at 23272 North Fork River Road, Abingdon, VA 24210. Because her kidneys are not functioning well, she needs frequent labs to monitor her electrolyte balance and hemoglobin levels. Under the recipe button above, we have listed foods and recipes low in potassium, sodium, and phosphorus, but we welcome all ideas. We are all learning too so we have listed recipes there to help my parents as they navigate the weeks ahead. In general, organic is best, because she is so reactive to chemicals. We understand that cost is often prohibitive. There is a list called the dirty dozen which are the fruits and vegetables that are the most laden with pesticides. We also have notes in front of each item indicating if it is safer to be organic. A recent study has found a way for chronic kidney disease patients to safely enjoy legumes like chickpeas and lentils for their high protein content. If using dry legumes, let them soak in a bowl of water for 12 hours or more. Discard the soaking water (now full of potassium) and rinse the legumes well. Cook them in a pressure cooker or boil in lots of fresh water. Canned chickpeas or lentils, the initial quantity of potassium and phosphorus is already fairly low. Soaking will reduce the potassium even further but isn’t necessary for most people. Make sure to choose canned chickpeas and lentils without salt or rinse before using. If you are using dried legumes, it is necessary to cook them after soaking to achieve a low potassium level. We hate to be so particular, but we are trying to give her body the best chance at healing. If you use aluminum foil or plastics, there has to be some barrier between the aluminum and the food. When we have prepared food for them, we line aluminum pans with parchment paper and then when covering the food, we put down a layer of parchment first before covering with aluminum foil. In short, aluminum foil and plastic should not touch the food when it is hot. Plastic wrap works as long as the food is cooled completely before it is wrapped. Her body is so sensitive that little things can cause an imbalance that manifests in her bloodwork. She is on immuno-suppressors, so please do not prepare anything for her if you are sick or visit at this time. Thank you for your compassion and willingness to carry this burden with us.