Family Education and Resources

If your child has been diagnosed with kidney disease, you'll find lots of helpful information here. Learn more about pediatric kidney disease and care. Find resources for parents, patients and siblings.

Educational resources for kidney diseases

Let our Family Health Library staff create a customized information packet for you
More about transplants and donors from the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS)
UNOS Kidney Transplant Learning Center
How organs are matched

Nutrition and dietitian services

Your child will need to follow a special diet while receiving dialysis. It's very important to limit the amount of sodium, phosphorous and potassium your child's food and drinks. Depending upon the treatment, you may also need to limit the fluid your child drinks. Our nephrology dietitian can help you design a plan to meet your child's needs.

Contact the nephrology dietitian at 682-885-4046

Transitional care for teens

For teens receiving dialysis approach adulthood, we transition their care to nephrologists who treat adults. We also educate teens about their diets and discuss ways to manage their health going forward. We also help them through the process of finding an adult care nephrology specialist.

Family support services

Social workers
Our social workers provide helpful resources while your child receives care at Cook Children's. If your child misses school to receive dialysis, for example, our social workers can provide support. They can also arrange for local teachers to provide tutoring if needed.

Financial assistance
Information to help you prepare a financial plan with our Financial Assistance team

Parent Mentors
Parent mentors provide one-on-one support and encouragement to newly diagnosed families or those with similar medical conditions for both inpatient and outpatient families.

Find a parent mentor

Sib2Sib program
Cook Children's Sib2Sib™ program provides services to siblings of children living with a chronic illness or life-changing disability, who are or have been patients at Cook Children's Medical Center. For more information, contact a Child Life specialist at 682-885-4048.

Helpful things to know
Parents on the Family Advisory Council would like to share tips and resources they've learned along the way.

Visit the helpful tips page
Download the helpful tips

Patient support services

Child Life specialists
Our Child Life specialists work with kids and families to make your visit easier and more comfortable. They can calm fears and anxiety and provide comfort during treatments.

More about Child Life

Sit…Stay…Play facility dogs
What could bring a big smile to your child's face? How about a visit from a furry friend. Cook Children's Sit…Stay…Play facility dogs are frequent visitors to our nephrology patients.

More about Sit…Stay…Play

Renal Rewards program
To encourage children to track their dialysis, we created the Renal Rewards program. Your child can win gifts as they reach milestones during treatment. Ask the staff about participating in the rewards program.

Summer fun at Camp Reynal
Don't forget about summer camp. We co-sponsor Camp Reynal, a one-week program for children with kidney disease. With full medical support, your child can enjoy everything from horseback riding to swimming. The children in our dialysis program still talk about the friends they've made over the years.

Go to Camp Reynal