The art of resilience: how Steve turned kidney disease into creative power

Diary of a Kidney Warrior Episode 137

Episode 137

The art of resilience: how Steve turned kidney disease into creative power

In this episode, Dee sits down with Steve, a passionate creative whose life was forever changed by an unexpected diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD). With no warning signs, discovering he was at just 30% kidney function came as a shock. Steve opens up about receiving his first kidney transplant and talks about how important self-advocacy is in the healthcare system. Through painting, Steve has found a way to channel his experience of kidney disease into purpose. Steve combines art and activism, raising awareness of kidney disease, and his work has been featured in exhibitions supporting Kidney Care UK. Finally, Steve describes the freedom his second transplant, received from a donation from his brother, has now given him.

Categories

Find out more about the issues raised in this episode

  • Haemodialysis (HD)

    About haemodialysis: how it works, who needs it, how if affects you, side effects, and sources of further information and support

  • Peritoneal dialysis (PD)

    About peritoneal dialysis: what’s involved, different types of PD, how it works, benefits and drawbacks, and sources of further information and support

  • Transplantation

    Kidney transplantation is a treatment for severe kidney disease. It involves an operation to replace your damaged kidneys with a new kidney from either a living or deceased donor.