Reflections From 15 Years of Living With Chronic Kidney Disease, Dialysis, and Kidney Transplant
If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance that kidney disease has touched your life in some way.
Maybe you’ve recently been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Maybe you’re caring for a spouse, parent, child, or friend who is navigating this journey.
Or maybe you’re like I was years ago—trying to understand what the future might hold after hearing the words, “You have kidney disease.”
I understand that feeling.
My kidney journey began in 2011 when I was diagnosed with Stage 3A Chronic Kidney Disease. For more than a decade, my kidney function remained relatively stable. Then life took an unexpected turn.
Complications from FSGS and a viral illness accelerated the progression of my disease. Eventually, I found myself facing dialysis. I spent nearly three years on peritoneal dialysis before receiving a kidney transplant in March of 2025.
Over the last 15 years, kidney disease has taught me lessons I never expected to learn.
Some lessons were painful.
Some were frustrating.
Some completely changed the way I view health, life, and what it truly means to thrive.
If I could go back and talk to the version of myself who had just been diagnosed, these are the six lessons I would share.
I hope they encourage you wherever you are on your kidney journey.
Lesson #1: Kidney Disease Starts Long Before Symptoms Do
One of the biggest misconceptions I had about kidney disease was believing that I would feel it getting worse.
Many people assume that serious health problems always come with obvious warning signs.
Unfortunately, chronic kidney disease doesn’t always work that way.
In fact, kidney disease is often called a “silent disease” because significant damage can occur before noticeable symptoms appear.
This was one of the most surprising things I learned during my journey.
For years, I felt relatively normal.
I went to work.
I spent time with my family.
I exercised.
I lived my life.
Yet behind the scenes, my kidneys were quietly working harder and harder.
What I’ve learned is that symptoms often lag behind reality.
By the time fatigue, swelling, loss of appetite, nausea, brain fog, or other symptoms become noticeable, kidney function may have already declined significantly.
That’s why routine monitoring matters so much.
Looking back, I wish I had understood sooner that:
- Feeling okay doesn’t always mean your kidneys are okay.
- Lab trends often tell the story before symptoms do.
- Small changes over time deserve attention.
- Early intervention can make a tremendous difference.
One of the most important habits any kidney patient can develop is learning their numbers.
Know your:
- eGFR
- Creatinine
- Urine Albumin-to-Creatinine Ratio (uACR)
- Blood Pressure
- Potassium
- Phosphorus
- Hemoglobin
- Albumin
You don’t need to become a nephrologist.
But understanding your trends gives you the ability to participate in your care rather than simply react to it.
The lesson?
Don’t wait until you feel worse to take kidney disease seriously.
The earlier you act, the more options you may have.
Lesson #2: Your Daily Habits Matter More Than Occasional Perfection
Like many people, I spent years searching for “the thing.”
The perfect supplement.
The perfect diet.
The perfect treatment plan.
The perfect kidney hack.
What I eventually discovered is that kidney health isn’t built through occasional perfection.
It’s built through consistent daily actions.
The habits you repeat every day matter far more than what you do occasionally.
I know this isn’t always the exciting answer.
Most people want the breakthrough solution.
But real progress often comes from mastering the basics.
Over time, I learned the importance of:
- Taking medications exactly as prescribed
- Staying hydrated appropriately
- Managing blood pressure
- Getting adequate sleep
- Moving my body regularly
- Following my doctor’s recommendations
- Monitoring lab trends
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Reducing unnecessary stress
None of these actions seem dramatic by themselves.
Yet together they create a powerful foundation.
Think about compound interest.
A small investment repeated consistently grows into something significant over time.
Healthy habits work the same way.
Many people become discouraged because they aren’t perfect.
I certainly wasn’t.
There were times I ate things I shouldn’t have.
Times I skipped workouts.
Times I struggled with motivation.
But perfection was never the goal.
Consistency was.
The patients I’ve met who tend to do best long-term aren’t usually the ones who are perfect.
They’re the ones who keep showing up.
The lesson?
Consistency beats perfection every single time.
Lesson #3: Protecting Your Mental Health Is Part of Protecting Your Kidneys
Nobody warned me about the emotional side of kidney disease.
People talk about lab results.
They talk about medications.
They talk about dialysis.
But very few people talk about what happens inside your mind.
The anxiety.
The uncertainty.
The fear of future test results.
The frustration of dietary restrictions.
The stress of wondering whether your kidneys will remain stable.
The emotional burden of preparing for dialysis or transplant.
These challenges are real.
For years, I focused almost entirely on my physical health.
I believed that if I could just manage my labs, everything else would fall into place.
What I eventually learned is that mental health and physical health are deeply connected.
Chronic stress affects sleep.
Poor sleep affects energy.
Low energy affects exercise.
Lack of exercise affects overall health.
Everything is connected.
During difficult seasons, I learned the value of:
- Talking openly with loved ones
- Seeking support from other kidney patients
- Prayer and faith
- Gratitude practices
- Exercise
- Counseling when needed
- Focusing on what I could control
One of the hardest truths about kidney disease is that there are things we simply cannot control.
But there are always things we can control.
Our mindset.
Our attitude.
Our response.
Our effort.
Those choices matter.
If you’re struggling emotionally, please know you’re not alone.
What you’re feeling is valid.
And taking care of your mental health is not a luxury.
It’s part of your treatment plan.
The lesson?
Mental health isn’t separate from kidney health.
It’s part of kidney health.
Lesson #4: Dialysis Isn’t the End of Your Story
When I first learned dialysis might be in my future, I was terrified.
I imagined the worst.
I assumed life would never be the same.
In many ways, life did change.
Dialysis is hard.
There’s no point pretending otherwise.
It requires sacrifice, discipline, flexibility, and resilience.
But what I discovered after nearly three years on peritoneal dialysis surprised me.
Life wasn’t over.
Far from it.
I learned that I could still:
- Work
- Travel
- Exercise
- Laugh
- Set goals
- Build relationships
- Spend time with family
- Grow spiritually
- Help others
Were there difficult days?
Absolutely.
But there were also incredible days.
Days filled with gratitude, purpose, and joy.
One of the greatest gifts dialysis gave me was perspective.
It taught me to stop postponing life.
Too many people tell themselves:
“I’ll be happy when…”
“I’ll live when…”
“I’ll enjoy life after…”
But life is happening right now.
Even during dialysis.
Even during uncertainty.
Even during hardship.
You are still here.
You still matter.
You still have purpose.
The lesson?
A diagnosis changes your life.
It does not end it.
Lesson #5: Nobody Will Care More About Your Health Than You
Throughout my journey, I’ve had incredible doctors, nurses, dietitians, transplant coordinators, and healthcare professionals.
They have played an essential role in my care.
But one lesson became increasingly clear over the years.
Nobody spends more time with your health than you do.
You are the common denominator in every appointment.
Every medication.
Every meal.
Every decision.
That’s why self-advocacy matters.
I wish I had become a stronger advocate earlier in my journey.
Today, I encourage every kidney patient to:
- Ask questions
- Learn their labs
- Understand their medications
- Keep records
- Track symptoms
- Take notes during appointments
- Seek clarification when confused
Never be afraid to ask, “Can you explain that?”
Never feel embarrassed to ask for more information.
Knowledge creates confidence.
Confidence creates better decisions.
The most empowered kidney patients I’ve met aren’t necessarily medical experts.
They’re engaged participants in their care.
The lesson?
Become the CEO of your health.
Your healthcare team is your board of advisors.
But you are still the one leading the journey.
Lesson #6: Gratitude Changes Everything
Of all the lessons kidney disease taught me, this may be the most important.
And certainly the most unexpected.
Kidney disease took a lot from me.
It took certainty.
It took comfort.
It took freedom at times.
It introduced challenges I never wanted.
Yet somehow, it also gave me gifts.
Not gifts I would have chosen.
But gifts that changed me.
Kidney disease taught me:
- Appreciation for ordinary days
- Patience
- Resilience
- Faith
- Perspective
- Compassion
- Gratitude
Before kidney disease, I often rushed through life.
I assumed tomorrow was guaranteed.
Now I see things differently.
I appreciate normal lab results.
I appreciate family dinners.
I appreciate quiet mornings.
I appreciate feeling healthy.
I appreciate being present.
Receiving a kidney transplant in 2025 was one of the greatest blessings of my life.
But gratitude didn’t start after transplant.
It started long before.
It started when I learned that even difficult seasons contain reasons to be thankful.
Gratitude doesn’t deny hardship.
It simply refuses to let hardship have the final word.
The lesson?
You can find reasons for gratitude even in the hardest seasons.
Final Thoughts: You Are Stronger Than You Think
If there’s one thing I hope you take away from my story, it’s this:
Kidney disease is part of your story.
It is not your entire story.
Whether you’re newly diagnosed with CKD, approaching dialysis, currently on dialysis, waiting for a transplant, caring for someone you love, or thriving after transplant, your journey still matters.
Over the last 15 years, I’ve learned that living with chronic kidney disease is about much more than managing lab values and attending medical appointments.
It’s about learning to adapt.
It’s about finding strength when you don’t think you have any left.
It’s about continuing to move forward even when the path ahead feels uncertain.
There were seasons when I felt overwhelmed.
There were moments when I wondered what the future would look like.
There were days during dialysis when simply showing up felt like a victory.
But through every stage of this journey—from Stage 3 CKD to dialysis to kidney transplantation—I discovered something important:
The human spirit is incredibly resilient.
You are capable of more than you realize.
Your diagnosis does not determine your potential.
Your current circumstances do not dictate your future.
And no matter where you are today, there is still hope.
Keep learning.
Keep asking questions.
Keep advocating for yourself.
Keep building healthy habits.
Keep leaning on your support system.
Keep taking the next step.
Because progress isn’t always measured in giant leaps.
Sometimes it’s measured in simply refusing to quit.
Fifteen years after my diagnosis, I can honestly say that kidney disease changed my life.
But it also taught me gratitude, resilience, faith, patience, perspective, and purpose.
And for that reason, I continue to believe what I tell my Thriving With CKD community every day:
You are not defined by your diagnosis.
You are not your lab results.
You are not your eGFR.
You are not your dialysis machine.
You are not your transplant.
You are a person with dreams, value, purpose, and a future worth fighting for.
And while kidney disease may be part of your journey, it does not get to write the ending.
Key Takeaways From 15 Years of Living With Kidney Disease
If I could summarize everything I’ve learned into six simple lessons, it would be this:
1. Don’t Wait For Symptoms
Kidney disease is often silent for years. Learn your labs, track trends, and take action early.
2. Consistency Beats Perfection
Small daily habits practiced consistently often have a greater impact than occasional perfect days.
3. Mental Health Matters
Managing stress, anxiety, and emotional well-being is an important part of living well with CKD.
4. Dialysis Is Not The End
Dialysis changes life, but it doesn’t end your ability to find joy, purpose, relationships, and fulfillment.
5. Become Your Own Advocate
Learn your condition, ask questions, understand your medications, and actively participate in your care.
6. Gratitude Can Change Your Perspective
Even during difficult seasons, gratitude can help you find hope, resilience, and meaning.
A Note To Caregivers
If you’re reading this as a caregiver, thank you.
Thank you for the appointments.
Thank you for the encouragement.
Thank you for the sacrifices nobody sees.
Thank you for showing up during the difficult days.
Kidney disease affects entire families, not just patients. Your support can make a tremendous difference in helping someone navigate this journey.
Please remember to care for yourself as well.
You cannot pour from an empty cup.
Medical Disclaimer
The information shared in this article reflects my personal experience living with chronic kidney disease, dialysis, and kidney transplantation. It is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice.
Always consult your nephrologist, transplant team, physician, registered dietitian, or qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your medications, diet, supplements, exercise routine, or treatment plan.
References
- National Kidney Foundation. Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Overview and Risk Factors.
- Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes. KDIGO Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Evaluation and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease.
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Chronic Kidney Disease Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment Resources.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chronic Kidney Disease Basics and Public Health Information.
- American Kidney Fund. Kidney Disease Education and Patient Resources.
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Hemodialysis, Peritoneal Dialysis, and Kidney Transplantation Educational Materials.
- Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes. Blood Pressure Management and CKD Progression Recommendations.
- National Kidney Foundation. KDOQI Nutrition and CKD Clinical Practice Guidelines.
