Your kidneys are vital, bean-shaped organs that filter waste products, toxins, and excess fluid from the blood, which then exit the body through urine. Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) occurs when your kidneys are damaged and lose their ability to work properly. This is typically a progressive disease that advances through various stages of declining function. I am currently at Stage 5, also known as End-Stage Kidney Disease, which means my kidney function has dropped to less than 15%.
The Clinical symptoms of Chronic Kidney Disease are remarkably diverse and specific to each person. Out of the extensive list of potential complications, I have personally experienced almost every symptom, though the most challenging for me are persistent fatigue and weakness, alongside a noticeable decrease in mental sharpness.
Having reached the final stage of Chronic Kidney Disease, my survival depends on either regular dialysis or a kidney transplant from a deceased person or a living donor. While dialysis serves as a critical life-sustaining bridge to a transplant, it does not result in a functioning kidney. Information regarding dialysis can be found on our Home Page. My physicians have emphasized that a kidney transplant from a living donor is my best option for long-term health, which is why we are focusing our efforts on finding a generous individual willing to provide the gift of life.
While the medical definitions of End Stage Kidney Disease focus on clinical data, the personal impact is far-reaching. For me, this diagnosis has shifted daily life from community service and family travels to a focused journey toward a life-saving transplant.
Every day ESKD impacts my life. Doctors’ appointments, fatigue leading to frequent naps, and minimizing interactions outside the home to avoid contracting anything, including a cold. ESKD seems to affect every part of my body. Every day, multiple symptoms affect me.
How I miss doing Citizen Patrols for the Police Department. I loved telling grade school kids as they left for the day….”Have a Great Day!” and they would always try to say it to me before I said it to them. I loved helping firefighters and paramedics at fire scenes, now I only see them when they come to the house with sirens blasting to treat me for a severe symptom or transport me to the hospital.
While my hope for a living donor often diminishes, it is renewed when I focus on stories of so many people in need receiving help from total strangers. There are so many good people out there, I just need to find the one intended for me.
While I make it a point to get out of the house every day, since 2020 I have not traveled. I can’t take the chance that I may pick up some germs that make my symptoms worse. I can’t stay in a hotel, I can’t be around a lot of people. My ESKD has taken away my husband’s retirement plans as well as my own. I simply want some semblance of what I thought retirement would be.
Every day ESKD impacts my life. Doctors’ appointments, fatigue leading to frequent naps, and minimizing interactions outside the home to avoid contracting anything, including a cold. ESKD seems to affect every part of my body. Every day, multiple symptoms affect me.
How I miss doing Citizen Patrols for the Police Department. I loved telling grade school kids as they left for the day….”Have a Great Day!” and they would always try to say it to me before I said it to them. I loved helping firefighters and paramedics at fire scenes, now I only see them when they come to the house with sirens blasting to treat me for a severe symptom or transport me to the hospital.
While my hope for a living donor often diminishes, it is renewed when I focus on stories of so many people in need receiving help from total strangers. There are so many good people out there, I just need to find the one intended for me.
While I make it a point to get out of the house every day, since 2020 I have not traveled. I can’t take the chance that I may pick up some germs that make my symptoms worse. I can’t stay in a hotel, I can’t be around a lot of people. My ESKD has taken away my husband’s retirement plans as well as my own. I simply want some semblance of what I thought retirement would be.
