Nikki

Kidney problems have been a constant in Nikki’s life. After a long battle with kidney infections, bladder issues and dozens of surgeries, at the age of just 21, Nikki was diagnosed with stage two chronic kidney disease. Nikki has only half a functioning kidney.

Since her diagnosis, Nikki’s kidney health has continued to decline. Some days, she suffers from chronic pain, ongoing fatigue and itchy and swollen legs.

Nikki knows the value of having someone to connect with who understands what living with kidney disease is like.

“I have met people from Australia and around the world who live with kidney related disease. As much as my family and friends have been amazing and supportive, it’s so nice to chat to someone else who understands what it’s like going through kidney disease."

Through your support, you are helping to connect more people like Nikki with much needed services. Services like the Kidney Helpline and Buddy Program so they can connect with others who understand the impact of kidney disease.

Jasmyn

Jasmyn has many interests and hobbies. She loves make-up, shopping and anything coloured pink. She also loves crystals and drawing.

But Jasmyn is also not your typical teenager. When she was just 12, she was diagnosed with end stage renal failure — and had to start dialysis.

Just before she turned 13, Jasmyn was told she could have a kidney transplant, but unfortunately things did not go to plan. A further diagnosis indicated a rare type of genetic kidney disease, which resulted in the failure of her transplanted kidney. Jasmyn had to restart dialysis.

Coping with kidney disease as a teenager is particularly challenging, especially when all you want to do is fit in with everyone else.

That’s why the national Kidney Kids Camp is such a special program for kids and teenagers like Jasmyn, and your help has made it happen.

“I tried to keep it very private; I didn’t have much peer support. When my peers found out I was bullied a lot. My close friends always supported me and so did my family, but it was hard. I felt like no one else understood the pain.

The camp made a big difference. It was so good to talk to other kids going through similar things.”

Nicholas

It was just a standard medical check-up for a job interview — but the results changed Nicholas’ life.

Nicholas was told there was blood in his urine, and he needed a check-up with his GP. He was shocked to receive a diagnosis of kidney failure and discovering he would need to start dialysis.

A passionate traveller and keen fisherman, Nicholas felt trapped by his strict dialysis regime.

Nicholas says when getting prepared for dialysis, the impact of his kidney disease really hit him hard.

“I didn’t realise all the restrictions on what I could eat — however the impact on travelling and freedom was even more difficult to accept. I really struggled with the restrictive nature and impact of having to undergo dialysis three days a week, for five hours at a time, just to stay alive.”

When Nicholas and his wife Jan found out about the Big Red Kidney Bus, a mobile dialysis unit that visits holiday destinations across NSW and Victoria, they were overjoyed.

“The Big Red Kidney Bus was a godsend – it helped bring normality back into our lives."