Your stories

Read about the experiences of people whose lives have been impacted by kidney disease.

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.

Would you like to share your experience of living with kidney disease? Your story will let other people with CKD know they are not alone and help us raise awareness of the challenges the kidney community faces.

To share your story, please get in touch. We'd love to hear from you.

"A few days ago I got up, and it was easier than normal, and I did a little jig in the kitchen."

Stewart's diagnosis of Vasculitis has affected everything in his life, from e...

"Rumer has beautiful skin, she looks healthy. But she’s not well, she is ill."

Rumer has grown up with the rare condition Bartter syndrome her entire life. ...

"People often ask: 'Are you adjusting to the "new normal"?' but I like to think we have gone back to the 'old normal'."

For 12 year old Kitty, a sudden diagnosis with a rare kidney disease meant em...

"People say: 'Get well soon.' While you understand that they’re just meaning the best, there isn’t any getting well soon."

Growing up with a rare renal disease can be extremely difficult. Kieran talks...

“Alan wasn’t giving me a kidney directly; he was getting me a kidney by giving his to a stranger.”

When Yvette needed a transplant, she and her husband Alan entered into the pa...

Living with kidney disease Rik and Sally

“I am proof that 30 years with a kidney transplant is a real possibility.”

Rik and Sally are travelling the world 30 years after his kidney transplant.

“It’s a shock to your system but I’m coping and I’m hoping it carries on.”

Two years ago, Nick lost both of his kidneys. While he now travels to the Roy...

“I’ve enjoyed coming in here and it has really turned my life around.”

Shaun was working on his motorbikes when his doctor told him to go to hospita...

“I planned to have children, I wanted to get married, and all that seemed to change.”

Gillian was shocked after being diagnosed with kidney failure in her 20s. She...

“You’re scared to share things, aren’t you? But after you do there is a kind of liberation”

Diagnosed with IgA nephropathy, new dad Ryan couldn't even lift his daughter.

"I was discharged, officially a kidney warrior and not knowing what was going to happen"

Dee documents her kidney journey in her podcast, Diary of a Kidney Warrior.

"I feel proud to have played a part in my recovery"

Alison shares her experience of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery programme.

“I fundraise because all of us know somebody less fortunate and want to support them”

Guitarist John has raised money for charities like Kidney Care UK since 1996.

“The transplant made it way better because I can do normal things.”

Clodagh and Faith are cousins who were both born with congenital nephrotic sy...

“He had no energy, and he tried as hard as he could… then we knew he needed a transplant.”

From birth, Joe’s mum Mary knew there were going to be medical difficulties. ...

"People don't realise what she goes through on a daily basis... it has a massive impact"

Heidi lives with rare kidney condition aHUS. Blood infusions keep her alive.

“Our aim is just to give her as much of a normal life as possible.”

After spending her first 11 months in hospital, Heidi was diagnosed with a ra...

"Nearly every six weeks we were being admitted to hospital"

David has lived with kidney failure all his life, diagnosed at one week old.

"He's crying out at us, 'Mummy, Daddy, please, water'"

Olly has stage 5 kidney failure and spends 84 hours a week on dialysis.

"Thanks to the Kidney Kitchen, cooking is back on the menu for these two food lovers!"

Helen and Phil thought they'd never enjoy cooking again with diabetes and CKD.

"I just knew it was going to be ok... it hasn't let me down over these last 40 years"

Over 40 years after his third transplant, Andy is an advocate for patients.

“Your kidney donor becomes like your second mother or father – they're giving you life”

Ravi's life was transformed by the gift of a kidney from living donor Daksha.

"I will never be able to repay Kidney Care UK for everything that they did for our family"

Melissa ran the London Marathon to support kidney patients like her dad.

"Are you looking after yourself as well as you look after your loved one with kidney disease?"

Jennie celebrates the "home team" who support friends or family living with CKD.

"It’s costing me more and more just to stay alive. It feels like I'm being priced out of existence"

Phoenix struggles to manage the rising costs of home haemodialysis.

"I am truly blessed to have been given a second chance at life"

Thanks to her sister's kidney donation, Kim has time with her grandchildren.

"I was just hoping my health held up. You’ve trained and prepared, but can your kidney take it?”

Marc has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and Everest Base Camp for Kidney Care UK.

"I was the ninth recipient to have a robot-assisted kidney transplant at Guy's Hospital"

Martin was offered the chance to have cutting edge robotic surgery.

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