{"id":1057,"date":"2024-11-18T14:23:59","date_gmt":"2024-11-18T14:23:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.purpldiscounts.com\/?p=1057"},"modified":"2025-06-08T17:32:37","modified_gmt":"2025-06-08T16:32:37","slug":"my-journey-with-chronic-kidney-disease-from-survival-to-advocacy-and-connection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.purpldiscounts.com\/my-journey-with-chronic-kidney-disease-from-survival-to-advocacy-and-connection\/","title":{"rendered":"My Journey with Chronic Kidney Disease: From Survival to Advocacy and Connection"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Hi, I\u2019m Christy, a 39-year-old living with Chronic Kidney Disease. After years of volunteer work, charity and blogging, I now run my own podcast, Chronically Christy.<\/a> Over the years, I\u2019ve faced countless challenges, but I\u2019ve also built a life full of resilience, connection, and advocacy. Through my podcast, I\u2019ve had the privilege of connecting with patients worldwide, helping others on their kidney journeys, sharing my own experiences, and learning from others, which has become a passion I truly cherish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Life-Changing Event<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In 2006, at just 21, my life took a dramatic turn. My appendix burst, leading to septicemia, peritonitis, and eventually multiple organ failure. My bowels ruptured, and my kidneys failed. I fell into a six-week coma and spent six months in the hospital recovering. When I finally went home, it was with a stoma and a grueling dialysis schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At an age when I imagined starting my career or planning for a family, I was instead adapting to an entirely new way of life. Hospital visits became my norm. This sudden upheaval forced me to grow up quickly, but I\u2019m incredibly grateful for the strong support network that kept me going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Road to Resilience<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This life-altering event reshaped my entire perspective. Despite the setbacks, I returned to university, got married, and underwent countless surgeries, including a kidney transplant from my husband, which sadly didn\u2019t work. But I never stopped pushing forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2014, I received a transplant from a deceased donor. Initially, there were complications, but eventually, I regained strength and enjoyed a dialysis-free life for nearly 10 years. With no dialysis we could travel and my husband and I made the most of it, traveling the world and creating memories I\u2019ll treasure forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Challenges of Decline<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

By 2023, however, I began to feel weak again. Gout flares, frequent infections, and the toll of immunosuppressants made life increasingly difficult. Early in 2024, I took steps to prepare for a possible decline in mobility, purchasing a walking stick and an emergency wheelchair. My transplant finally failed in July 2024, just shy of its 10-year anniversary. I\u2019m now back on dialysis, adjusting to its demands while navigating life as a 39-year-old – wiser, but admittedly a little wobblier!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not easy, but I\u2019m back on the transplant list and growing stronger every day, thanks in part to counselling, which I had long resisted. It\u2019s a reminder that asking for help isn\u2019t a weakness; it\u2019s a way to reclaim your strength.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Christy<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Living with Chronic Kidney Disease: My Advice to Others<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

People often ask me for advice about living with chronic kidney disease. Here\u2019s what I tell them:<\/p>\n\n\n\n