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Living Fully: My Journey with Peritoneal Dialysis

2026-01-09T14:20:35-05:00January 5th, 2026|Categories: Dialysis, In-Center Hemodialysis, Kidney Transplant, Peritoneal Dialysis, Quality of Life, Staying Healthy, Support, The Kidney Citizen, Treatment|

Dwan Dobson, DPC Patient Ambassador When I was first diagnosed with kidney failure in 2005, it felt like my life had been turned upside down overnight. One day I was working two jobs as a teacher and tutor at a detention center, and the next, I was in the hospital learning that my kidneys had stopped working. Like so many others, I didn’t know what to expect, but I was determined to stay positive and keep moving forward. At first, I began emergency dialysis through a chest port. Once I adjusted, I transitioned to peritoneal dialysis (PD) at [...]

Choosing the Right Path: My Journey with Home Hemodialysis

2026-01-09T14:01:19-05:00January 5th, 2026|Categories: Dialysis, Home Hemodialysis, In-Center Hemodialysis, Kidney Transplant, Quality of Life, Support, The Kidney Citizen, Treatment|

Amber Gardner, DPC Patient Ambassador When I was diagnosed with kidney failure in 2023, it came as a shock. I had gone to the doctor for high blood pressure, but soon learned that my kidneys were failing. Suddenly, I was faced with decisions that would affect every part of my life – which treatment option to choose, how to adjust my routine, and what this diagnosis meant for my future. With a background in journalism, research has always been second nature to me. I spent hours learning about dialysis – comparing hemodialysis (HD), done through the arm or [...]

Turning Trials into Triumph: A Journey with Kidney Disease

2026-01-09T13:48:41-05:00January 5th, 2026|Categories: Diagnosis of Kidney Disease, Dialysis, In-Center Hemodialysis, Kidney Transplant, Peritoneal Dialysis, Quality of Life, Support, The Kidney Citizen, Treatment, What Causes Kidney Disease|

Alethea Walls, DPC Board Member I've learned that living with kidney disease doesn't mean life stops - it just means you learn to live it differently. My journey with kidney disease began at just 14 years old. I was diagnosed with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN), and my life changed overnight. While most teenagers were navigating high school and part-time jobs, I was learning about my treatment options. I started with peritoneal dialysis, then transitioned to hemodialysis. Each option came with its own adjustments, but I wasn't going to let this stop me. As soon as I turned 16, [...]

Treatment Options for End Stage Renal Disease

2026-01-09T13:37:42-05:00January 5th, 2026|Categories: Dialysis, Hemodialysis, Home Hemodialysis, In-Center Hemodialysis, Kidney Transplant, Peritoneal Dialysis, Quality of Life, The Kidney Citizen, Treatment|

Nancy Scott, DPC Education Center Project Manager Many patients crash into dialysis and are placed into in-center dialysis centers. Hopefully, more providers are educating patients about treatment options. When patients are engaged and educated about their respective conditions, they tend to have a better quality of life both physically and mentally. The world of kidney disease is forever changing and making a significant impact on the journey of renal patients. Explore Potential Treatment Options for Kidney Failure[1] A kidney transplant is often the best possible treatment option for patients with kidney failure. If you aren’t eligible for a [...]

Nocturnal Home Hemodialysis (HHD): Kidney Replacement Therapy with Less Impact on Daily Life

2026-01-09T13:23:02-05:00January 5th, 2026|Categories: Diagnosis of Kidney Disease, Dialysis, In-Center Hemodialysis, Kidney Transplant, Mental Health, Peritoneal Dialysis, Quality of Life, Support, The Kidney Citizen, Treatment, What Causes Kidney Disease|

Brigitte Schiller, MD, FACP, FASN, SVP, Medical Officer: Home Therapies, Global Medical Office, Medical Affairs, Fresenius Medical Care Important progress has been made in the delivery of dialysis. The “one size fits all” approach with standard thrice-weekly in-center hemodialysis shifts toward personalized care, emphasizing quality of life, independence, and symptom management tailored to each person’s clinical and personal needs. Kidney replacement therapy at home is a critical ingredient in this effort. While kidney transplantation remains the gold standard of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), most people require dialysis before receiving a transplant. As patients await transplantation, selecting the appropriate [...]

Staying Hopeful Through the Wait

2026-01-09T13:12:47-05:00January 5th, 2026|Categories: Diagnosis of Kidney Disease, Dialysis, In-Center Hemodialysis, Kidney Transplant, Mental Health, Peritoneal Dialysis, Quality of Life, Support, The Kidney Citizen, Treatment, What Causes Kidney Disease|

Hasan Artharee, DPC Board Member Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) runs in my family. I watched my grandmother go through dialysis when I was young, and later my mother during my college years. So, when I was diagnosed with PKD at 22, I understood what the future might hold. The diagnosis came after my blood pressure kept rising and I needed medication. My doctors checked my kidneys and found that PKD was affecting my blood pressure and other systems. They told me that based on my family history, I'd probably need dialysis or a transplant by my 40s. For [...]

Finding My Path Through Treatment Options

2026-01-09T13:00:21-05:00January 5th, 2026|Categories: Dialysis, Home Hemodialysis, In-Center Hemodialysis, Kidney Transplant, Peritoneal Dialysis, Quality of Life, Support, The Kidney Citizen, Treatment|

Cheri Rodriguez Jones, DPC Board Secretary I was seven years old when doctors diagnosed me with a rare kidney disease. The 1980s and 90s didn't offer much in terms of treatment – just managing symptoms and preserving kidney function as long as possible. Hospital visits became routine. At 19, after some tests, my doctor called with surprising news: "You need to start dialysis." While unexpected, I'd always known dialysis was coming eventually. By then I was already a mother to my infant son. Discovering What Worked for Me The medical team recommended peritoneal dialysis so I could do [...]

The Holidays!!!

2025-12-08T10:42:53-05:00December 8th, 2025|Categories: Lifestyle, Mental Health, Nutrition, Physical Health, Quality of Life, Staying Healthy, Stress Management|

The holidays are here! Let us not forget that the holidays are not always joyous for everyone, especially those with chronic diseases. Holiday events tend to focus on food and often food that is not renal friendly. Research foods that still taste good but are also good for you! Get plenty of rest and watch your fluids. You can still have fun but just be mindful so that you can enjoy the holidays because of being compliant. On another note, some individuals may be sad for many reasons—lack of support, loss of a loved one, finances, not feeling well most of [...]

National Diabetes Month

2025-11-12T13:04:08-05:00November 3rd, 2025|Categories: eNews, Physical Health, Staying Healthy|

November is National Diabetes Month. This is a time when it is necessary to focus on prevention, awareness and management. Most are aware that diabetes and hypertension are the number two risk factors for kidney disease. Not all patients with kidney disease have diabetes or hypertension but some have both. Educate yourself about diabetes—know the risk factors, your family history, exercise and eat healthy. Diabetes can be fatal but it can also be managed. It is always advisable to consult with a physician. There are numerous findings that children with diabetes should be genetically tested because in some cases, diabetes [...]

How Are You?

2025-10-08T14:02:24-04:00October 8th, 2025|Categories: eNews, Mental Health, Physical Health, Quality of Life, Staying Healthy, Stress Management|

How are you? The usual answers are: “I am okay” or “I am fine”. But, how are you really doing? Are you sad? Are you afraid? Are you depressed? Are you feeling anxious? Are you angry? Are you happy? Let us focus on emotional well-being. What is emotional well-being? Many scholars believe that emotional well-being refers to a state of mental health characterized by positive emotions, resilience, and the ability to manage one’s thoughts and feelings in a healthy way. In other words, try to focus more on the positive and less on the negative. Negative thoughts and emotions can affect [...]

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