In 2019, Tamara Graham's journey as a patient partner began with a chance encounter at the Nanaimo Kidney Care Clinic. "I always say they were clever," she jokes. "I was at the clinic for an appointment, and saw they'd placed a BC Renal poster in their washroom, seeking non-dialysis patient volunteers."

This was four years after Tamara’s initial diagnosis, and despite the stability of her limited remaining kidney function, she could no longer work as a police dispatcher. She did however feel called to make a difference. "I liked the idea of working with people committed to kidney care," she says, "and, with my disease, I knew I'd be part of the kidney community forever."

In the five years since joining BC Renal, Tamara's work as a patient partner has been invaluable. She's served on a range of different committees — the Kidney Care Committee, Core Committee, BC Kidney Days Planning Committee, and Transplant First Steering Committee — where she’s shared insights and helped inform the future of kidney care in BC. Tamara's passions for nutrition, movement, research and presentations have also guided a number of her contributions: everything from joining a research team that studies the gut microbiome to co-presenting talks on joyful eating and mindful movement with renal dietitian Dani Renouf.

"Volunteering with BC Kidney Days is very special to me," Tamara says. "I led a Bollywood exercise break by myself one year, and most recently was a speaker with a team of kidney experts presenting new guidelines on potassium.”

In her spare time, Tamara enjoys a fulfilling and active lifestyle: teaching Zumba and dance fitness classes, paddling with an outrigger club, and running a small food truck with her partner. "We both love to cook," she says, "especially with plant-based nourishing foods, and I'm currently writing a cookbook." Tamara credits her love of nutrition and exercise for the stability of her kidney function: it's held steady since her diagnosis in 2015, despite initial warnings from doctors about the likelihood of kidney failure.

Looking forward, Tamara is eager for more patients to join BC Renal, and has recently been reaching out to others to encourage becoming a patient partner. "BC Renal needs more patient perspectives, and from various backgrounds," she says. "All the working groups are accommodating to various commitment levels, and you don't even have to leave your home unless you want to take part in something in person. It's a wonderful way to meet other patients who are on similar kidney journeys, it is comforting to witness the many professionals committed to kidney care, and it is rewarding to be a part of a community we landed in for unfortunate reasons."

If you'd like to get involved as a patient partner, or find current opportunities, see our webpage for more: BCRenal.ca/GetInvolved