Elizabeth

My biggest fear is not fulfilling my dreams and not accomplishing something great before I die. I need another kidney and hope and pray I can find a living donor. I’m on the deceased donor waiting list but the wait can be up to 7 years long and a living donors kidney has better odds and last longer.

Marcia

My biggest fear living with kidney failure is not being the best wife, mother and grandmother that my family deserves. I worry about not being able to work and be an active member of society. I fear death living with this disease.

Dawn

 I wish more people understood that kidney disease is not always predictable. One can go from living a happy, healthy life to being dependent on others for your care. I would like to be working, but find that many businesses do not want to hire someone who has only four days a week available. Also, there are days when the tiredness and weakness that I experience after dialysis make it impossible to do even simple tasks.

Josh

Kidney failure and dialysis are very difficult things to overcome. I am definitely afraid of dying at such a young age. My life has changed so much with the little amount of freedom I have to live a normal life. I need some help finding a donor. I have tried literally everything.

Maria

Kidney disease has changed my life in both good and bad ways. I am now more thankful for the little things in life. I cherish every moment and try to live my life to the fullest everyday regardless of this disease. My biggest fear with this disease is not being able to accomplish my goals.

Mason

Mason was born June 20, 2016. At 3 weeks old he was taken to Children's hospital of Philadelphia where his family learned he had end stage renal failure. He is currently on dialysis for 10 hours each night as his family searches for a living kidney donor.

Saima

I cannot begin to explain how kidney failure has changed my life. It is an extremely hard condition to live with. When I was first diagnosed with kidney failure, I was very numb. I automatically denied it, I prayed for it to be a dream and I spent months crying myself to sleep. I would always stay strong in front of my family, but then I would close my bedroom door and cry for hours.

Jade

My life has changed a lot because of kidney failure, especially now since my mom passed a couple of weeks ago as a result of the disease. I've been on dialysis for 5 years now, as of November 2nd actually. I witnessed my mother, Karen, dealing with it during middle school and had a small understanding. I watched her receive a kidney from my aunt after 2.5 years on dialysis. After 15 years, she ended up back on dialysis with me, maybe for a year before she passed away.

Taylor

I was diagnosed with kidney disease when I was 21. The doctors told me it was caused by strep throat. I'm now 26 and my life has been put on complete hold due to my kidney failure. I'm now on dialysis, and have been for a little while. I want to be able to work and most of all I want to be a mommy, but unfortunately until I find a new kidney I can't have a baby and that eats me alive on a daily basis.

Jennifer

I was first diagnosed at 25 years old. I had just had my son and I was experiencing hypertension. My diagnosis and situation is hard to talk about. People give you the pity look or treat you like you're glass about to break. It makes it difficult to reach out for help, but the reality is, I need help. I need a living kidney donor.

Theslyn

I wish more realized that kidney failure can happen to you too. Please educate yourself before making opinions and judgements. Dialysis can be overwhelming emotionally and physically so if you know someone going through this please watch your words and actions towards them.

Rafael

Kidney failure is no joke. You feel tired and weak all the time and you are in bed most of the day. It's hard to have a life while on dialysis. This has been really difficult, but I am blessed with my family motivating me.

Lasha

I have tried to live a normal life for the last 20 years while on dialysis. I am ready to get back to living. I never got to do normal things healthy people do, like travel, have children, or just have freedom to be me in general. Always tied to a machine to live, there is no vacation from being on dialysis. My biggest fear living with kidney failure is dying without achieving the dreams and goals I have for my life.

Matt

I loved the feeling of giving back to the community and working with an amazing group of brave men and women risking their lives to help others. I would love to continue volunteering someday once I am better.