Betty is a retired hairdresser and tailor.  She has many nieces and nephews, enjoys watching them play soccer and softball.  She enjoys socializing with friends, shopping and going to the movies.

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My name is Ronnie. I was born with a birth defect of the kidneys. I had surgery when I was 7 weeks old.  I developed ESRD when I was 21 and have been on dialysis since 1980.  I had neck surgery in 1998 and 1999 due to a cervical collapse of my neck.  I am confined to a wheelchair, but want to improve my strength and stamina. 

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A Polycystic patient, a disease I received from my mother.  My kidneys shut down in my 30’s I went on dialysis then received a kidney in November 1990.  My new kidney worked great for 16 years.  Then I found out from my Dentist that my immune suppressant drugs caused cancer in my mouth and sinus area. I took chemo treatments and radiation and now I am cancer free but the chemo shut down my good kidney and I am back on dialysis again.

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At age fourteen I started to get very sick during the hurricane season of 2005 so I went to the emergency room when I started to have a seizure because my blood pressure soared up.  I was rushed to Texas Children’s Hospital and after the doctors ran some tests they found out that I had kidney failure.  After being in the hospital for about a week I was released and that’s when my life changed.  I had to go to the hospital every week, miss a lot of school and take a handful of medications, but although I was doing everything correctly it was my time to start hemodialysis three times a week for 3 hours each treatment. After a year of being on dialysis I am now about to be on the kidney transplant list and start waiting for the kidney that can maybe change my life.

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Well, I was born with only one kidney and by the time I was 12 it was functioning at only 60%.  I knew it was only a matter of time before she blew (figuratively speaking).  Well seventeen years later she blew.  Back in Nov. of 06 I got really sick. I was having trouble moving just to get up and use the restroom.  This went on till March of 07, when I was having lunch with my mother, she said that I was looking rather pale and decided to take me to the doctor.  Well, they found out that I was a wee bit anemic!  They added 7 units of blood.  Well, apparently the kidney makes your blood, did you know that, I didn’t.  Well, anyway that’s when they found out I needed to start up on dialysis. 

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My name is Andre, I am 38 years old married father of 4 children.  Since starting dialysis 2 ½ years ago my life has changed a lot.  Although I am doing well on dialysis I haven’t been able to return to work nor have I been able to participate in my favorite sport.  Even playing with my children is tiring. When I heard about Shad Ireland I was inspired to take action and gain control of my disease.  I am excited that the Peg Smithe Fitness Grant is available to patients like me.  I am currently on the waiting list for a kidney and I would like to get into better shape for the transplant and my well being.

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My name is Leroy. I am a kidney dialysis patient on hemodialysis.  I have been on dialysis since October 2002.  I enjoy sports, traveling, listening to Jazz, and spending time with my family.  In the past, prior to dialysis, I was very active, playing in softball leagues around the city.  My hopes are to be able to compete again in sports.  Improving my stamina is my main goal.

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I, Monica, have been on dialysis since 2000.  It has been a long hard battle. This is 2007, that has been seven long years, that I have been dealing with this fight. I only have been hospitalized once, but it was due to my lungs.  I had a cyst under my left lung.  Since that I have been as well as can be expected.  But my wish is to get or let me say, become better. I am very determined.

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I got in this position when I lost my mother, then 33 days later I lost my grandmother.  The day I lost her I had a house fire. I moved back home to my mothers estate, I had a contractor to come in and remodel the house I am in now and I had another house fire.  The contractor took over that project too.  When he started he was talking to the insurance company.  When he started he tore up the house completely.  This worried me to the point I started to give up on him.  Worry will kill you!!!!  I have just been hanging in there!!! Roll with the punches!!!! He took $38,000 in all and still no work today!!!  What do you do??

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I am trying to be the person that I envisioned I would be at this age when I was 21.  Life on dialysis makes that a challenge.  I have 3 kids and a part time job.  I was blessed with the kids and the job, so I refuse to let either one down. In order to succeed, I know I need to be healthy.  Between the job, my kids, my family and my church activities, my time is limited for a lot of other outside activity.  In my mind, I will try because I must. 

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Ronald has been on dialysis since 1998. He has two children.  He also enjoys chess and watching sports on T.V. He is in work-up for a kidney transplant.

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Thomas has been on dialysis since 1996.  He has two brothers who live in the Lubbock area.  He enjoys playing the guitar in his spare time.

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When I first started dialysis, I didn’t care about anything.  Because I was suppose to have gone to the Army.  I’ve always wanted to go into the Army, but when I had to be on dialysis, I felt like my whole world fell apart. I used to have a lot of energy when I would get off the machine, but lately I have little energy when I get off.  I will go in with a lot of energy, and then it will wipe me out after four hours on the machine.  I just want to have more energy when I get off.  I need to have the energy that I came with before I got on the machine because I need the energy for school. 

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Leonard moved to Dallas from Tyler, Texas.  He is divorced, with a six year old son who is “the light of his life.”  He enjoys keeping fit at the YMCA. 

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Walter has been on dialysis since 2004. He lives with his mother, and spends a lot of time volunteering at his church.  He is the ESRD Network patient representative of the center. He has a positive attitude and makes an effort to up lift other patients and staff.
“God bless you,” he says.

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On November 26th 2003 the doctors told me I had to go on dialysis. I have been on dialysis ever since,  I always try to find the good in things and the Lord helps me. 

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