“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 has received haemodialysis for 20 years and visits the kidney unit three times a week for four and a half hours at a time. Her only guaranteed days off of dialysis each year are Christmas and New Year’s Day.

We met Gillian at the Royal Preston Hospital.

Gillian lives 20 miles away from hospital. She is up at half past five in the morning to travel in for haemodialysis, and it is often half past four in the afternoon before she is home.

Gillian discusses the pressures of dialysis, including how difficult it was to get her head around the dietary and fluid restrictions, from managing her potassium levels to having a single cup of coffee a day.

Gillian has received help and support from Kidney Care UK, including help with fighting for her PIP tribunal which took her three years.

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“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 has received haemodialysis for 20 years and visits the kidney unit three times a week for four and a half hours at a time. Her only guaranteed days off of dialysis each year are Christmas and New Year’s Day.

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