Your stories

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) can affect anyone. Patients, carers and Kidney Care UK fundraisers from all over the UK share their stories of diagnosis, dialysis, kidney-friendly cooking and more.

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    • Kidney Care UK staff
    • Kidney conditions

    Candace and Elliott's story: heart failure and dialysis

    Candace, Kidney Care UK's Senior Data & IT Officer, discusses her son Elliott's heart failure, emergency dialysis, heart transplantation and how those experiences help her in her role.

    • Kidney conditions
    • Kidney failure
    • Transplant

    Ben's story: living with IgAN

    After his kidney function deteriorated, Ben's cousin Matt donated a kidney to him. Ben discusses life after transplantation as well as the impact that kidney disease has had on his mental health.

    • Haemodialysis
    • Kidney failure

    Clare's story: haemodialysis and living with CKD

    Clare chats about her CKD diagnosis, the paired/pooled transplant scheme and haemodialysis and its impact on her life as a mum of two young kids.

    • Haemodialysis
    • Kidney Care UK staff
    • Kidney failure
    • Transplant

    Holly's story: living with CKD

    Holly, Kidney Care UK's Young Adult Kidney Group leader, chats about transplant, dialysis and how her role supporting young people living with CKD has been informed by her own experiences.

    • Haemodialysis
    • Kidney Care UK staff
    • Kidney failure
    • Transplant

    Allison's story: living with CKD

    Kidney Care UK Patient Support & Advocacy Officer Allison discusses her 'favourite' Uncle Jackie, who lived with kidney failure when she was a child, and how those experiences have influenced her.

    • Kidney Care UK staff
    • Kidney failure
    • Transplant

    Ellen's story: living with CKD

    Ellen, Kidney Care UK's Support Line Leader, discusses her and her husband James's experiences of living with CKD and how those experiences influence her role.

    • Diet and nutrition
    • Haemodialysis
    • Home therapies
    • Kidney failure
    • Transplant

    Cade's story: living with FSGS

    Cade was diagnosed with FSGS when he was a teenager. He discusses life with a rare condition, from diet to dialysis, and explains how a Kidney Care UK grant helped him to finish college.

    • Kidney conditions
    • Rare renal

    Eloise's story: living with cystinosis

    Eloise has lived with cystinosis since she was a baby. Dad Tom discusses how the rare disease has affected Eloise and her family, from nasty tasting medication to one-handed cartwheels.

    • Haemodialysis
    • Kidney conditions
    • Kidney failure
    • Peritoneal dialysis
    • Stage 1-3 CKD
    • Transplant

    Living with CKD: diagnosis experiences

    From communication issues and dismissed symptoms to unseen medical records, Nikki, Tony, Janet, Izzy and Angela share their experiences of being diagnosed with CKD.

    • Haemodialysis
    • Kidney conditions
    • Kidney failure
    • Peritoneal dialysis
    • Transplant

    Lea's story: prescription issues and CKD

    Lea discusses living with chronic kidney disease, shares the struggles she has had with prescription charges and explains what she would like to be done differently.

    • Kidney conditions

    Charlotte's story: living with nephrotic syndrome & FSGS

    Charlotte discusses her kidney disease journey, from changes to her physical appearance and feelings of isolation to living her best life after her diagnosis.

    • Diet and nutrition
    • Fundraising
    • Haemodialysis
    • Kidney conditions
    • Kidney failure
    • Transplant

    Living with CKD: Kidney Care UK's support

    From finding kidney-friendly recipes to accessing help with debt and housing, Rayhanneh, Emily, Glenn, Dave and Lee share how Kidney Care UK's services have supported them.

    • Kidney conditions
    • Kidney failure
    • Peritoneal dialysis
    • Rare renal
    • Transplant

    Mariann's story: living with CKD and PTLD

    Mariann explains how a rare diagnosis of CKD and PTLD has impacted her life, from difficult chemotherapy sessions to her uncle Jeff donating a kidney to her.

    • Haemodialysis
    • Kidney conditions
    • Kidney failure

    Living with lupus and CKD

    From diagnosis tips to the importance of support networks, Karisse, Stuart, Sara, Michelle, Gillian, Anoushica and Berlina share the ups and downs of living with lupus and CKD.

    • Haemodialysis
    • Kidney failure
    • Peritoneal dialysis
    • Transplant

    Jade and Darren's story: living with CKD

    Jade has been living with CKD since childhood. She discusses how CKD has impacted her, and, with her partner Darren, explains how and why they both fundraise for Kidney Care UK.

    • Haemodialysis
    • Home therapies
    • Kidney failure
    • Peritoneal dialysis
    • Rare renal
    • Transplant

    Mike's story: living with Alport syndrome

    Mike's family has a history of CKD and he was diagnosed with a rare condition as a teenager. He has recently had his second kidney transplant and feels like he has been given his life back.

    • Kidney conditions
    • Rare renal
    • Stage 1-3 CKD

    Katie's story: living with CKD and LPHS

    From delayed diagnoses to new medication, Katie discusses how living with LPHS and CKD has taken its toll and how she's striving to help others living with the condition.

    • Haemodialysis
    • Kidney failure
    • Peritoneal dialysis
    • Transplant

    Tony's story: living with kidney disease

    After fears of a second transplant kept him on dialysis, Tony explains how his godson inspired him to go back on the transplant list, and how his altruistic donor is a 'real life superhero'.

    • Kidney conditions
    • Stage 1-3 CKD

    Penny's story: living with CKD and sepsis

    After a bout of sepsis in hospital, it took months for Penny to receive a diagnosis of CKD but she maintains a positive outlook. It is always 'What's next', and never 'What if...'

    • Kidney conditions
    • Kidney failure
    • Peritoneal dialysis
    • Transplant

    Jon's story: living with CKD and sepsis

    After living through two kidney transplants and seven bouts of sepsis, Jon shares how sepsis has impacted him, and explains the vital importance of knowing the signs.

    • Haemodialysis
    • Kidney failure
    • Transplant

    Deborah's story: living with kidney disease

    Diagnosed with CKD at 27, Deborah has since received a 'perfect match' kidney transplant. She discusses living with CKD, from the joys of holidaying to the frustrations of benefits.

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