Diagnosed with Kidney Disease at the age of 9, I went into completely Kidney Failure at the age of 16.

What I have learned is that End Stage Kidney Disease is NOT the End of LIFE!

I was 16 then .. I am 35 NOW!

I have been on both Peritoneal Dialysis and Hemo Dialysis (in hospital or clinic .. not at home) and have already had 2 kidney transplants!

I have learned that you can prevent total kidney failure by watching your Phosphate intake (fast foods are high in it and a huge no no) as well as watch your Potassium. These are hard on failing kidneys as it is the job of the kidneys to take out the excess of these. Same with fluids. If you are swelling, don’t take in so much!

I have learned that my health doesn’t control me but that I control it! With all that I have learned about diet I am pretty proud of when the doctor told me that my lab results were the best of everyone on dialysis on my shift!

Also I have learned to LEARN what the blood lab RESULTS MEAN! As soon as I learned what they meant and how to stay on top of them and within the ranges the best I could I learned that I was part of my health care and not dying! That I could manage this!