Hi, I am a diabetic, type one and have been since 1956 and of course I am insulin dependent. I have had of course a number of problems over the years. Have had laser surgery on my eyes for bleeding because of that but that was stopped. I have had angio and angioplasty and the last time I went in they told me that one had plugged up again. I will wait until I have a major heart attack before doing open heart surgery. About 2 years ago they told me my kidneys were starting to fail. They, the kidney doctors told me I would have to be put on dialysis. I was really felling very tired. My potassium level was up to a high of 6.9.S. I had the kidney doc put in a fistula and he told me after it was ready in a few months they would start me on the dialysis. At that point I asked the Dr if there was anything to do to reverse or make this go down. He said no. At that point I had stopped my day to day walks with my dogs. I started back up and started watching the foods high in potassium I ate. The potassium has dropped down to 5.6 and 5.7 and I have all my energy back and fell good and that has been just over a year.

I have known since I was diagnosed with Lymphoma 32 years ago, that I had problems with my kidneys and they have gradually gone worse over the years and as of now are they are at 18%. The doctors have told me my problem is due to the Cancer. I can't have a transplant because of the Lymphoma as I would need anti rejection drugs which in my case would cause the Lymphoma to wake up again and the antirejection drugs would kill off my immune system and I would die. I am also 74, on Warfarin and have bad antibodies in my blood from the Cancer so my Renal Consultant had said don't even entertain the idea. He said something about Dialysis but I was in shock after learning about no transplant so I don't even know if I can have Dialysis. My eldest Son had some problems with his Kidneys, he was in the Navy at the time serving abroad and they brought him home to have an operation. He died in his 30's not of Kidney failure. My next Son was born very ill and had an operation at Birth to have a Colostomy. He lived for 12 months and then started to go downhill, we were told he had a kidney infection but things went downhill very quickly and they found out that he only had one Kidney and the other was badly diseased so there was nothing they could do and he died at 13 months old. I blamed myself but was told by Doctors that it wasn't my fault, Year later I was diagnosed so I was on a guilt trip again. I had a Daughter who is perfectly healthy and offered to give me one of her Kidneys, it was then I found out I couldn't have a Transplant. I have no intention of giving up though, I have fought the Cancer so will do the same with my Kidneys.

My granddaughter was born with both her kidneys under developed. I was really upset because the children's hospital had misdiagnosed the problem and was treating her for anemia. By age three she was under weight and height, and suffering bouts of pain, nausea, and fever. At age four during one severe bout, the emergency room of the hospital we were in, sent her to USC med center, where they were able to correctly diagnose the problem. Apparently one of her kidneys was operating at only 17% and the other at 80%. The specialist started her on a regimen of calcium three times a day and vitamin D three times a week. She also began receiving medical exams every month. Let me tell you some were, very painful for her and for me also. Gradually her appetite has improved; she has grown to her normal height and weight. The urinary tract infections have tapered off and her exams have gone to every three months and now to every six months. She does still have an occasional incidence of wetting the bed. She is eight years old now a seemingly happy and carefree child. We thank God every day for the improvements in her life, but the specialist said that the real test would come when she reached her teens. That would be when we would find out if she would need a kidney transplant or not, he said that it was possible that she may not, only time would tell. We try not to think of it, but it lurks constantly in the back of our minds. We pray continually for her and for all those who are experiencing the pain and anguish of such afflictions. We take it one day at a time and cherish each moment we spend with her. I still don't know what her condition is called, though we are thankful that her treatment has so far been covered by medical and the health families plan. Even though it looks like they don't want to cover it anymore. If this happens, we don't know what we will do.

I have had chronic kidney failure since the age of 9. At 13, I had to have a fistula in my arm to be ready for dialysis. I am now 43 years old and the fistula is still going strong. At the age of 15, I started CAPD, which stands for Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis. Back then, it was only experimental. I was the first in east Tennessee to do this. Before I was able to live with the CAPD, I had to go through 20 operations before the catheter was able to work. The first catheter was too long and got lodged between my liver and rib cage. So they had to shorten the catheter. I still have nightmares about the catheter in my side. I also have experienced waking up during one of the operations to help with the CAPD. I still have those nightmares, too. My childhood was not normal due to the kidney failure and dialysis I had to go through. I missed a lot of school and failed two years of school. I was unable to go to school from 8th grade to my last semester of my senior year of high school. I did graduate and receive my diploma. I was the first one in my family. My older brother and sister dropped out before they graduated. I did not let my illness hold me back. In 1992, I rejected my kidney because I quit taking my rejection medicine. It tasted awful. Back then, all there was was an anti-rejection med, Cyclosporin, in liquid form. If anyone has ever taken this drug then you know what I am talking about. I have had this kidney since 1993, and it is doing great. The only problem is I have been having trouble with my LDH level going up and down. My creatine is starting to rise, but it has been between 1.8 -2.07 for the past five years now. At least it is stable and no dialysis so far. I thank God for all the doctors that have seen me and treated me over the years.