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.

  • Families, Kidney conditions and diagnosis, Living with kidney disease, Rare renal

    Heidi's story: living with aHUS

    Heidi was diagnosed with a rare kidney condition at just three weeks old. She has blood infusions to keep her alive, but nothing stops her – her life is filled with family, friends and sports she loves.

  • Families, Living with kidney disease, Stage 5 CKD (Kidney failure), Transplant

    Joe's story: living with kidney disease

    From birth, Joe’s mum knew there were going to be difficulties. But Joe was a fighter, and at 11 years old he has had two kidney transplants, the second being donated from his dad.

  • Families, Haemodialysis, Living with kidney disease, Stage 5 CKD (Kidney failure), Transplant

    Olly's story: living with kidney disease

    Olly is just trying to be a normal little boy – who happens to be spending 84 hours a week on dialysis. He is living with stage 5 kidney failure and waiting for a transplant.

  • Families, Living with kidney disease, Rare renal

    Rumer's story: living with Bartter syndrome

    Rumer has lived with the rare condition Bartter syndrome her entire life. Mum Amy explains how the disease has affected both of them, from holidaying to making up pillboxes.

  • Kidney conditions and diagnosis, Living with kidney disease, Rare renal, Stage 5 CKD (Kidney failure), Transplant

    Baby Heidi's story: living with kidney disease

    Heidi was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease and spent her first Halloween and Christmas in hospital. Now she is thriving, and the next step is to try and get her a kidney transplant.

  • Families, Living with kidney disease, Rare renal, Stage 5 CKD (Kidney failure), Transplant

    Clodagh and Faith's story: living with kidney disease

    Clodagh and Faith are cousins who were both born with congenital nephrotic syndrome, who have each had a kidney transplant, with kidneys donated from family members.

  • Haemodialysis, Living with kidney disease, Peritoneal dialysis, Stage 5 CKD (Kidney failure), Travelling and CKD

    Shaun's story: living with IgAN

    Shaun was working on his motorbikes when his doctor diagnosed him with a rare kidney disease. Now Shaun receives haemodialysis treatment and is back working on his bikes.

  • Haemodialysis, Living with kidney disease, Rare renal, Transplant

    Sally and Rik's story: IgAN

    For Rik and Sally, IgAN meant vomiting, exhaustion, and dialysis. Now, 30 years after Rik’s kidney transplant, they are travelling the world, from the Lake District to Chile.

  • Living with kidney disease, Medication, Rare renal, Transplant

    Sarah's story: living with aHUS

    Sarah was diagnosed with aHUS when she was less than two years old. From failed transplants to the importance of support networks, Sarah talks about her experience of kidney disease.

  • Diet and nutrition, Haemodialysis, Peritoneal dialysis, Stage 5 CKD (Kidney failure)

    William's story: living with kidney disease

    William Johnston enjoyed a career in catering before starting dialysis and having to adapt to a renal diet. Thanks to the Kidney Kitchen he's found his 'cooking mojo' again

  • Diet and nutrition, Kidney conditions and diagnosis, Living with kidney disease

    Helen and Phil's story: living with kidney disease

    Helen and Phil had thought they'd never be able to enjoy cooking again after their diabetes and kidney disease diagnoses.

  • Families, Living with kidney disease, Rare renal

    Stewart's story: living with vasculitis

    Stewart's diagnosis of vasculitis has affected everything in his life, but he doesn't let the bad days overwhelm the good. After all, his granddaughter has to make someone laugh.

  • Families, Haemodialysis, Kidney conditions and diagnosis, Living with kidney disease, Rare renal

    Kitty's story: living with nephronophthisis

    For Kitty, a diagnosis with a rare kidney disease meant emergency dialysis and missing out on school. But one donated kidney from her uncle later, Kitty is back living her 'old normal' life.

  • Haemodialysis, Kidney conditions and diagnosis, Living with kidney disease, Rare renal, Stage 5 CKD (Kidney failure)

    Kieran's story: living with nephrotic syndrome

    Kieran talks about how living with a rare renal condition meant getting stared at by children, and how the Young Adult Kidney Group has helped him get into a better place.

  • Families, Stage 5 CKD (Kidney failure), Transplant

    David's story: living with kidney disease

    David was diagnosed with kidney failure at just one week old. He became the youngest person in Northern Ireland to receive a transplant when his dad donated a kidney to him.

  • Diet and nutrition, Haemodialysis, Living with kidney disease, Stage 5 CKD (Kidney failure), Travelling and CKD

    Gillian's story: living with kidney disease

    After a shock diagnosed of kidney failure in her 20s, Gillian has received haemodialysis for 20 years. She visits the unit three times a week for four and a half hours at a time.

  • Families, Transplant

    Yvette and Alan's story: living donation

    When Yvette needed a transplant, she and her husband Alan entered into the paired/pooled donation scheme. Three swapped kidneys later and Yvette received the best transplant possible.

  • Families, Haemodialysis, Living with kidney disease, Stage 5 CKD (Kidney failure), Transplant

    Joseph's story: living with kidney disease

    Joseph was diagnosed with stage five cancer and, after ringing the bell, kidney failure. Yet, despite all the hardship, Joseph is always smiling and he is now waiting for his kidney transplant.

  • Haemodialysis, Living with kidney disease, Stage 5 CKD (Kidney failure)

    Nick's story: living with kidney disease

    Two years ago, Nick lost both of his kidneys. He now travels to the Royal Cornwall Hospital for haemodialysis three times a week and still has a positive outlook on life with kidney failure.

  • Families, Kidney conditions and diagnosis, Living with kidney disease, Rare renal, Stage 5 CKD (Kidney failure)

    Layla's story: living with aHUS

    Layla was diagnosed with aHUS, a rare renal condition. When she is not visiting the Great North Children's Hospital for infusions, she is riding bikes and winning dance competitions.