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From Flatline to Front Lines: A Dialysis Warrior’s Fight for Every Patient’s Future

2025-10-10T15:18:18-04:00October 1st, 2025|Categories: Dialysis, Quality of Life, Support, The Kidney Citizen|

Arthur Hill, DPC Board Member “When Death Couldn't Stop Me, I Knew I Had Work to Do” When I first learned I had Goodpasture's disease – a rare condition that would forever change my life – I had no idea I was about to embark on a journey that would reveal depths of strength I never knew I possessed. September 2010 marked the beginning of what I now call my awakening. Despite feeling unwell, I pushed forward with determination, traveling to Mississippi for work. My body was sending me urgent signals, but I was too focused on my responsibilities [...]

Choosing Life: My Journey with Kidney Disease

2025-10-10T15:14:07-04:00October 1st, 2025|Categories: Dialysis, Mental Health, Quality of Life, Support, The Kidney Citizen|

Maria Robinson, DPC Board Member I’ve lived with kidney disease for most of my life. Nearly 30 years ago, I began my dialysis journey. Like so many patients, I was not fully prepared for such drastic change. I had to give up my dream job in order to take care of myself. I felt like I was losing the life I had worked so hard to build. Yet, over time, I realized that kidney failure was not the end of my life, but rather the beginning of a new one. It’s one filled with challenges, yes, but also filled [...]

Kidney Failure and Fighting for Our Cause

2025-10-10T15:01:20-04:00October 1st, 2025|Categories: Dialysis, Kidney Transplant, Support, The Kidney Citizen, Treatment|

Adam Goldstein, DPC Board Member When I was 19, I had my whole life planned out, but cancer had other plans. I survived, but not unscathed. The chemotherapy that saved my life also damaged my kidneys. I was diagnosed with kidney failure and began dialysis soon after. For years, I was determined to push forward and live “normally.” I got a transplant. It gave me back a sense of independence, a sense that maybe life would stop orbiting around hospitals and lab results. But as many of you know, a transplant isn’t always a cure. Mine eventually failed. And [...]

DPC’s 2025 State Advocacy Wins

2025-10-10T14:51:48-04:00October 1st, 2025|Categories: Costs for Treatment, Dialysis, Kidney Transplant, Resources, The Kidney Citizen|

Elizabeth Lively, DPC Eastern Region Advocacy Director Pamela Zielske, DPC Western Region Advocacy Director DPC achieved key state wins for ESRD patients as several states passed Medigap premium protections during the 2025 session, with legislation in additional states still in play. In addition, several states passed “birthday rule” bills, which aim to allow more flexibility and patient choice for individuals with Medicare Supplement plans by providing a window for Medigap enrollees to change their plans without medical underwriting. As insurers price their plans differently, enrollees may find a more affordable premium for the same plan from a [...]

Camarones con Sémola de Maíz

2025-05-07T13:39:25-04:00May 7th, 2025|Categories: Recipes, Spanish Materials, Staying Healthy, The Kidney Citizen|

Receta enviada por Arnella Chatman para el DCI Kidney Cookbook Tiempo de preparación: 20 min Tiempo de cocción: 40 min Tiempo total: 1 hora Porciones: 4 Ingredientes: 1 taza sémola de maíz blanca molida gruesa 2 cucharadas mantequilla sin sal ½ manojo de chalotes pequeños, picados ½ taza maíz 1 cucharada aceite vegetal 1 pizca hojuelas de pimiento rojo (opcional) ½ taza pimiento rojo picado 1 taza guisantes verdes ¾ libra camarones, pelados y desvenados Instrucciones: En una olla grande, lleve 3 tazas de agua a ebullición. Agregue la sémola de maíz, reduzca a fuego bajo, cubra y cocine durante [...]

Are You Aware That…

2025-03-19T13:07:18-04:00March 19th, 2025|Categories: eNews, Quality of Life, Resources, Staying Healthy, Treatment|

The Dialysis Patient Citizens Education Center is dedicated to improving kidney patients’ quality of life and reducing the occurrence of End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) through education. Education is the transmission of knowledge and we take this task very seriously. Your health and welfare come first! We have multiple resources and tools to equip you in your respective journeys. Our Website (www.dpcedcenter.org) The website is filled with pertinent and useful information. There you will find: an overview of the education center, multiple resources, copies of the “Kidney Citizen” (Our international magazine that provides articles, questions and answers about renal disease, [...]

Support Groups

2024-10-03T11:11:20-04:00October 3rd, 2024|Categories: eNews, Quality of Life, Resources, Support|

Coping with a chronic disease is not an easy task! The journey is challenging, tiring, frustrating--often depressing, and lonely. One can feel that no one is experiencing or understanding their respective circumstances. A support group is a confidential and safe place to share with others, as well as a place to develop a special and unique comradery with those who participate. The Dialysis Patient Citizens Education Center formed a support group called the “Kidney Chat”. The group meets every second Tuesday at 2:00 pm EST via telephone. The telephone number is (866) 230-9002; the code is 420 835 078#. Various guests, [...]

Merida Bourjolly: Taking Control of Her Care and Finding Meaning Through Advocacy

2024-04-26T15:34:31-04:00April 26th, 2024|Categories: Dialysis, Employment, Hemodialysis, In-Center Hemodialysis, Kidney Transplant, Lifestyle, Physical Health, Quality of Life, Staying Healthy, Support, The Kidney Citizen|

Merida Bourjolly, President of DPC Education Center Board of Directors Merida Bourjolly had a kidney removed when she was just three weeks old, though it wouldn’t be until much later that her experience with dialysis would begin. By then, she already owned her own business and had both a teenage daughter and her mother to take care of at home, which meant starting dialysis came with big adjustments. She did her best to continue working five to six days a week like she had before, but found she was increasingly tired while styling her clients’ hair. Eventually, she [...]

For Gene Blankenship, Family is Everything

2024-04-26T15:34:00-04:00April 26th, 2024|Categories: Dialysis, Employment, Hemodialysis, In-Center Hemodialysis, Kidney Transplant, Quality of Life, Support, The Kidney Citizen|

Eugene Blankenship, DPC Board of Directors Gene has had a front row seat to life with kidney disease for as long as he can remember. His entire family has been affected by kidney disease, and he was diagnosed himself in 2003. While it has come with challenges, Gene has continuously pushed forward, bolstered by the loving support of his family and those in the dialysis community he’s met along the way. After three years on dialysis, Gene was finally able to receive a kidney transplant this year. Persevering through dialysis treatments can take a toll, but Gene learned [...]

Knowledge to Empowerment

2024-04-26T15:33:39-04:00April 26th, 2024|Categories: Dialysis, Hemodialysis, In-Center Hemodialysis, Quality of Life, Support, The Kidney Citizen|

Nancy L. Scott, DPC Education Center Project Manager As I sat on the side of my hospital bed on a cold night in March of 2004, my heart was broken and it felt as though my time on the planet was almost over. I had just been diagnosed with END STAGE RENAL DISEASE. The word “end” means a final part of something, and I thought that something meant me. I had just retired and planned to enjoy life and travel as much as possible. These dreams had come to an end! (Little did I know at the time, [...]

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