As a Kidney Recipient, I happen to have first hand knowledge on the Kidney failing process.
On or about 12/18/2018, I was rushed to the hospital because I couldn’t breathe or sleep at night. This went on for maybe two months. Every night was an exhausting event, my body was depleted of the ability to even walk the dog. At that time, I had a Rottweiler named “DYNASTY” she had been with me for over 11 years. She was the center of world at that time, until met my wife. Whom I met during this entire process, she is my Guardian Angel. Sent from above, with out her I would not be here writing this letter.
Thank You, Bessie
At the age of about 45, I was working as a contractor, and we were doing a roofing installation. While standing on that roof I got extremely dizzy and almost fell two stories to the earth. If it wasn’t for the help of my sub-contractors I could have been seriously injured. The dizzy spell was so severe I had to go to the hospital. It was then that they informed that I had “HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE”. Now I could have had this condition for a while, but this is when I was officially notified.
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE is one of the leading causes of kidney disease or kidney failure. Not knowing the effect of high blood pressure is a guaranteed trip to the Nephrology department and a Dialysis seat.
“ Dialysis is the treatment that remove waste and excess fluid from the blood when the kidneys are no longer functioning properly “
Dialysis is anywhere from 3 to 6 years per session, Monday, Wednesday, Friday or Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. This is a good time to reflect and gather your thoughts, and decide how you are going to live the rest of your life. I decided that life is worth living, so I did everything that my doctor told me to do. I kept all of my appointments, I made the adjustments to my diet and took life seriously.
For those of you who see Dialysis as the beginning of the end. Let me tell you that’s not the case. It’s the new beginning, a means of keeping you alive while you make the necessary adjustments to move your life forward. It’s how I’m getting through this whole process. I have always kept a positive attitude about my situation. So, if you are taking the time to read my story then I ‘m speaking truth to life. This may be your journey also so find the thing that give you your spiritual joy and hold it near to your heart and make the decision “LIVE”.
In my case, I did dialysis Mon, Wed, and Fri., for 3 hours and 45 minutes each session. After my treatments, I would have a short term burst of energy for approximately 2 hours. After that I would have to rest until the next day. When I'm woke, I am a new man, not 100% but a good 65 to 70 %.
This went on for 6 years and during that time I was still able to work. I got married to the most wonderful women, who has been my greatest inspiration. We purchased our dream home I added an addition to my deck. I built a concrete patio with gazebo, started a food truck project, built my website and most of all I took up fishing.
On or about May 11th,2023, I lost my companion “DYNASTY” we’ve been through a lot together. Man I could tell you some stories, so I’ll just share one with you. Dynasty was a 100 lb., beautiful and intimidating. We had been together so long she thought she was my wife.
We were in the Walmart parking lot getting ready to park, I was waiting for the vehicle in front of me to move. I had been sitting there what seemed like an hour. The vehicle started to pull out and I started to advance forward. Then all of a sudden, another vehicle in the same isle saw the vehicle move after he had seen me waiting, and he decided to bum-rush the parking space. I was infuriated. I slammed my car into park jumped out the car opened up the back door let Dynasty out and we walked over the driver’s side of the guy’s car and stood there waiting for him to get out and we were angry. He knew we weren’t playing and he didn’t want that smoke so he begrudgingly backed out and move to the other side of the parking lot since the lot was full. Dynasty and I got back into the car pulled into the parking spot and we went on about our business “HIGH FIVING EACHOTHER”.
Dedicated to Dynasty
In 2017 I started a Non-Profit Organization, The holy Smokes Foundation. The purpose of this organization is to unite the communities, so that we could address some of our most basic needs. Using family friendly fun entertainment and education. Meanwhile I was approached by one of my oldest friends, who happens to reside right here in Atlanta, and was asked what was the purpose of my organization.
Dedicated to Mr. & Mrs. Carl & Robbie Washington
Robbie Terry Washington, Whom I’ve known since she was 8 or 9 and I was 13. She explained to me on several occasions that it was a good thing to have a nonprofit organization, but it needs to be structured towards, something that I am truly passionate about. So here we are Passion, Purpose & Personal Experience.
Thank You! Robbie
Kidney Disease is a big issue in our communities, as of September 30th 2024 there are approximately 518,970 people on dialysis in the United States. Globally its almost 4 million. The first successful treatment was performed in 1945 by Willem Johan Kolff on 67-year-old women. The patient regains consciousness after 11 hours of hemodialysis and live for another 7 years.
If you have High Blood Pressure, Diabetes, Genetic Diseases, Auto Immune Disease, Urinary Tract Problems and certain Medications are all causes of kidney Failure or kidney disease. Just think approximately 80 years ago there was no treatment for kidney disease so people simply passed on. Today modern science has evolved so that now you can still live a fulfilling life, even if you are on Dialysis. Furthermore, transplants are being performed every single day.
So, my message to you is to choose life, because life is worth living and be Thankful for every day because every day is another opportunity to get better and to fulfill your Devine Purpose!
