help for an Aggie

[twirl]

Does anyone know if there is a foundation for scholarships for students with a parent on dialysis?
My son is in the Science Academy. He has worked at a summer job training at NASA, the pay was education.
He is active in church and has been a youth leader. He is 6 feet 4 inches and weighs 270--- he works out and is not fat, we call him the Hulk. He was in all sports until his senior year when he did not want to lose weight for spring training and football.
Many colleges came to talk to us but none had a money offer that was enough.
Allen plays offensive line, center, right guard, left guard and deep snap. He was a team captain.
Our income dropped when I had to go on disability. He was given $15,000, however, he could not receive it when he wrote one sentence about playing football. Seem like athletics can not receive that money. HE is going to be an Aggie, even if I wanted him to go to Colorado of the Minds.
He wants to play in the top or big 10 or 12.(?)
His two sisters have PKD and he probably does also, he does not want to know, but if it helped him get scholarships, we would find out.
any information would be greatly appreciated      twirl and family

[okarol]

I don't know specifically, but the best way to see all the scholarships that a student can qualify for is by going to www.fastweb.com.

[okarol]

Oh here's another resource: The Kidney & Urology Foundation of America is proud to offer its scholarship and awards program for kidney and urology patients, one of the only of its kind.  The program is intended to stimulate education, rehabilitation and adjustment to living productively with renal and urologic disease and includes scholarships, achievement awards and individual recognition awards.  The spectrum of awards provides opportunities to patients of different ages, backgrounds, interests and strengths.  http://www.kidneyurology.org/Patient_Resources/scholarships.php

[okarol]

Here's one - it's a PDF file The American Kidney Fund Patient Scholarship Program kidneyfund.org/patient-grants/assets/scholarship-2008-application.pdf

[kitkatz]

I think someone needs to fill out the Bright Star award for Okarol.

[paddbear0000]

What about federal student loans? They would be paid back after he graduated, on a monthly basis. After graduation, there is a 6 month grace period so you can find a job. Plus you can get payments based on how much you make. Also, if he decides to go back to scholl (i.e. to get a Master's or something), the loan will be deferred until he's done (as long as he maintains part-time status). Loan applications are usually filled out and submitted once the child has been accepted to a school and given the school their decision. Check out these sites:

https://www.fafsa.com/Forms/Ajax/FAFSA/Default.aspx (The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) - every student applying to college should fill this out!)

http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSFAP/DirectLoan/index.html (The William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program)

http://www.staffordloan.com/ (The Stafford Student Loan)

Your son can apply for several, then when he graduates, he can consolidate them with a lower interest rate. That's what a lot of students do. There is also the Federal Work Study program. You work on campus and get paid for it. It's great money for books, supplies, fees, etc. I did both in college.

http://www.ed.gov/programs/fws/index.html (Work Study Program)

[twirl]

thankyou everyone
Bubba is going to A&M June 28th                               
he has to do football, political science and advanced calculus
no summer for him
we got a lot of financial help with his grades
but we still have to pay 500-600 month
I miss my baby        already
his scholorship monies added up
1000 here 2000 there
I now have to change my Aggie jokes

[donnia]

YAY!! Congrats to Bubba!  GO AGGIES!!!!!!!!!!   

[pelagia]

So glad to hear that college is working out for your son

You mentioned that he does not want to be tested.  We have not had our son tested because I have been concerned that it will impact his employability or ability to get health insurance later on.  But now there is a new bill called Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act (GINA) that is going to help with this.  Even so, there isn't much reason to get tested if there are no symptoms.  If high blood pressure begins to kick in, he should be treated for that.  Our doctor monitors my son's blood pressure and we occasionally measure it at home.

http://www.pkdcure.org/InternalPages/2008/GinaPassesUSSenate/tabid/839/Default.aspx

I hope you know that they are running a number of drug trials for PKD therapies.  We all need to keep hopeful that they are going to find treatments for PKD before it has a chance to cause kidney failure in our kids.

Here's a link for info on the pkd foundation site about drug trials:
http://www.pkdcure.org/tabid/142/default.aspx

and one of the many articles on the web about some of the latest findings that offer hope:
http://www.healthcarerepublic.com/news/PHARMACIST/817576/RA-drug-offers-fresh-hope-polycystic-kidney-disease/

These articles are a little dense to read, but they all point in the same direction.  Hope!

[twirl]

thankyou
my two daughters have PDK, their cysts showed up at sonograms when I was pregnant with them
that is an awful time to show, so young
my son would worry himself silly
my mother had PDK
her father, my grandfather had it
my twin - no
my older sister - no
cousins - no as far as we know and they aren't young
my older sis has one working kidney
my twin will not give me a kidney
we get along
she just will not do it
it is nice to know of you, PKD is hard and many people has no idea what a killer it is
I have been asked if I still have that little kidney problem
hell yes

[okarol]

Hey twirl,
If you want to you could get active in a PKD Cure chapter near you, check the map to see where http://www.pkdcure.org/ConnectLocally/FindaChapterNearYou/tabid/136/Default.aspx

[twirl]

My Aggie is moving in today
in a apartment complex
where girls also room
and a swimming party every Thursday
he has a private room and bath
OMGosh
my baby is going to learn more than academics and football

[monrein]

I moved into my residence at university at 16 and started living with my boyfriend (now husband) in my dorm room at 17.  There was a lot to learn about and it was all good. 
These will hopefully be some of the best years of your son's life.  I wish I'd had a private bath.

Now if only you'll be alright.