March 17, 2026

Caring for the mind, body and spirit in kidney care 

Kidney disease is most prevalent in adults over 65 years of age, but it can and does affect people of all ages, including youth and young adults. Approximately 6 per cent of Canadians aged 18 – 44 are affected. Kidney disease on the rise in Canada and the demand for kidney, dialysis and transplant care that supports the body, mind and spirit of patients, continues to grow at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, too.

For Saverina Scozzari, her journey with kidney disease started at birth. Her kidneys weren’t fully developed and their function progressively declined through the years to the point that in 2023, at age 25, Saverina received a life-saving kidney transplant. Saverina’s father, John, volunteered to give his daughter one of his kidneys in an act of selfless parental love. The surgery was performed at St. Joe’s and while the transplant was a success, Saverina struggled with more than her kidney disease during her transplant journey — she felt the impact on her mental health and wellbeing, too.

“The anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress that a transplant recipient can experience are devastatingly real,” says Saverina. “But at the same time, you’re also so grateful for this organ donation and a new chance at life… so it can be difficult for transplant patients to voice those concerns. I was lucky to have great family and friends and a full support system, but what about those who aren’t as fortunate?” 

Saverina and her dad.

Saverina wasn’t alone in her struggle. Studies show that up to 60 percent of patients requiring a kidney transplant experience signs of depression. That’s why since 2015, St. Joe’s has offered mental health resources to live organ donors and transplant recipients. But Saverina and her nephrologist, Dr. Azim Gangji, felt like there was more that could be done to address this staggering statistic more fully.  

After her kidney transplant, Saverina started raising funds for kidney care at St. Joe’s through an annual event that falls near her birthday and celebrates her gratitude for a better quality of life. Through her Wayback Lunch & Benefit, over the past two years, she has raised more than $53,000. Those funds are helping to bring a psychology resident into the kidney care clinics one day each week to visit patients and support their mental health.  

“Integrating the clinical side of kidney care with mental health access is vital to a patient’s transplant journey,” says Dr. Joe Pellizzari, who supervises the psychology resident clinic in the Kidney and Transplant Care Clinic at St. Joe’s. “Since the clinic’s launch, we’ve heard nothing but positive feedback from our patients about their experience, which shows how much it’s valued and needed in their overall care.” 

St. Joe’s is the number one Hospital in the province for transitioning patients currently on dialysis to a successful kidney transplant performing between 140 to 165 of these procedures each year. More than 3,000 patients are under the care of our nephrology team at any one time. But our kidney care clinics are more than two decades old. They’re outdated and too small to accommodate this growing program. That’s why St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation is working with our generous community to raise $2.2 million to renew the Kidney Care and Transplant Clinics at the Charlton Campus.  

Learn more about our renal renovation and how you can donate to the campaign.