On September 4, R&B singer Freddie Jackson shared the news that Freddie Jackson had been diagnosed with kidney disease in a video posted on his social media channels.
“After a lot of thought and reflection, I feel I’m ready to talk about this latest chapter in my life,” Jackson, 67, says in the video.
“I was diagnosed with kidney disease. The journey has been challenging, but I decided to face it with openness and resilience.
“It’s important for me to share this with you, not just as part of my personal story, but as a way to make a positive impact,” he said, announcing a partnership with the National Kidney Foundation to raise awareness Awareness of kidney health and support for people living with kidney disease.
Jackson reaches the summit advertising billboardHe topped the R&B singles charts in the 1980s with a string of hits including “You Are My Lady,” “Have You Ever Loved Somebody” and “Jam Tonight,” and he expressed hope that his collaboration with the National Kidney Foundation Being able to “help shine a light” illuminates the importance of this issue.
He thanked his fans for their support and said, “As I take this step, I am turning my personal experience into a platform for better understanding and advocacy. With your help, we can work to improve every kidney disease patient awareness and improve their outcomes.
Kidney disease “involves the progressive loss of kidney function,” explains the Mayo Clinic.
Treatment “usually slows the progression of kidney damage by controlling the cause,” which may include inflammation, diabetes or high blood pressure.
The disease can progress to end-stage renal failure, “which can be fatal without artificial filtration (dialysis) or kidney transplantation.”
In addition to the kidneys, the disease can affect “nearly every part of the body,” causing brittle bones, heart disease or a decreased immune response, the Mayo Clinic said.
The Centers for Disease Control estimates that one in seven Americans has chronic kidney disease, and nine out of 10 people don’t even know they have the disease.
Jackson ended the video by thanking his fans, saying: “Thank you for your encouragement, love and support. It means so much to me, more than I can express.
“From the bottom of my heart, I love you.”
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