Media Advisory
Service to those affected by chronic kidney disease
January 24, 2008
For Release Immediately
Contact: Izabella Khachoyan
Renal Support Network
(866) 903-1728
Izabella@rsnhope.org
Local Teen Salematou Traore travels to California for a Night to Remember
Washington D.C.— Salematou Traore has heard about the prom for a couple of years—not just any
prom, but a prom for three-hundred beautiful, courageous teens who have chronic kidney disease;
and now she was actually going to California for the Ninth Annual Renal Teen Prom, sponsored by
the Renal Support Network (RSN).
Traore has had her kidney transplant since 2004 and was diagnosed in 2000 at the age of 15 when
she started dialysis treatments. Since she was diagnosed, a lot about her life has changed: daily
medications, the three-times-weekly dialysis visits of 3 to 4 hours each time, doctor visits, blood
tests, and hospital stays. Even after receiving a transplant, Salematou had to look life squarely in the
eye. “I want a happy and productive life, and length has very little to do with life satisfaction,” she
says.
“I’ve had to learn to live with the knowledge that I will never be ‘over’ chronic kidney disease, but
that the choices I make now very much affect my life in the future.” Her friends changed after she
was diagnosed. “I still have two friends from seventh grade, but I found that people my age at the
time just didn’t have to confront things that I did—we worried about different things.”
“Giving these teens a carefree evening, doing normal, coming-of-age activities, bringing a date,
dancing, getting dressed up--all of these things reinforce them as people and human beings who have
a lot to contribute to those around them,” states Lori Hartwell, President and Founder of the Renal
Support Network whose brainchild this is.
Hartwell, who missed her own teen prom because of chronic kidney disease, started the prom
because she knew how it felt to be “different” because of CKD, and how heartbroken a teen can be
(more)
An illness is too demanding when you don’t have hope!
Renal Support Network • A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization • EIN #95-4672679 • info@rsnhope.org.org
1311 N. Maryland Ave., Glendale, CA 91207 • Phone 818-543-0896 • Fax 818-244-9540 • www.RSNhope.org
Renal Support Network
because they’re too sick to go to their prom or have a dialysis treatment, or are in the hospital. She
knew how hard it is sometimes to keep going, and yet, how a friend can give you hope and courage.
One friend can make a difference!
“Because I had surgery, I had some visible scarring,” says Traore, “but here at the Prom I just wore
my prom dress and didn’t worry about my scars—because I was surrounded by other people just like
me. So you don’t think about it.” She continues, “My most memorable moment of the prom was
when I saw Christy Carlson Romano. I was just star struck! It was so amazing to see her in person”
Romano was the evening’s emcee who is known among these teens particularly for her roles on
“Even Stevens”, “Kim Possible” and “Cutting Edge 3.” Additional celebrity guests included Saige
Ryan Campbell (“I Heart Huckabees”), John McCook (“The Bold and the Beautiful”), Mark
Dacascos (The Chairman of “Iron Chef America”), Griff Furst (“Dead Men Walking,” “Dracula’s
Curse”) and “Animal House’s” Flounder, Stephen Furst.
“But we couldn’t do this without the hard-working volunteer students at Notre Dame High School,”
Hartwell stated. “Their commitment and enthusiasm is really important to the success of the
evening. They stuffed the gift bags, helped decorate the gym, the beauty room, and the restrooms,
stuffed the invitations, and did so much to communicate what teens want in a prom. We also met
with them to educate them about kidney disease and the importance of being an organ donor.”
The prom can be attended year after year, as long as the attendees are between the ages of 13 and 24.
Many life-long friendships are formed here and the returning teens are able to catch up with their old
friends.
“At the Prom I met two people doing really well,” Traore says. “One was on dialysis and one had a
kidney transplant, and they both gave me so much hope that I could start living the way it is possible
for me to live. The Prom was fantastic! I’ve never seen anything so beautiful! This was really nice.
It was absolutely worth the effort to get out there and I’m so glad I went.”
The Renal Teen Prom was sponsored by individual contributions and by Abbott, American Regent,
Amgen, Astellas, Baxter, DaVita, Donate Life California, ESRD Network 18, Genzyme, and
Watson Nephrology.
Next year’s Renal Teen Prom in California will be held on January 18, 2009. For further
information contact RSN at (866) 903-1728 or on the web at www.RSNhope.org
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The Renal Support Network (RSN) a national, non-profit, patient-focused organization provides non-medical
services to those affected by chronic kidney disease (CKD). RSN strives to help patients develop their
personal coping skills, special talents, and employability by educating and empowering them (and their family
members) to take control of the course and management of the disease.
Photos are available electronically. Please call Izabella at (866)-903-1728.
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One Friend Can Make the Difference!