Not allowing CKD to hold me back
I’ve been dealing with this for a very long time now. I’m 28 years old, and I was diagnosed with CKD when I was 13. I allowed it to stop me from doing a lot in my life. I didn’t graduate high school, my social life took a massive hit, and I wouldn’t even go outside.
A couple of years ago—maybe in 2024—I hit a very low point. I contemplated ending it all. I felt like I hadn’t accomplished much in my life and that I wasn’t going to accomplish anything.
But then my social worker convinced me to try nursing school. I had talked about wanting to do it before, but I didn’t think I could. I gave it a shot, and it was the best thing I could’ve ever done.
It was really hard balancing dialysis, going to school, and keeping up with schoolwork, but I got through it. I recently graduated—my walk across the stage was on May 15—and I’ll be taking the NCLEX on June 10.
I’m writing this because, for a long time, I allowed this disease to rule me. I want people to know that this isn’t the end. Sure, it’s hard—really hard—but you can still accomplish great things despite all the bullshit this disease brings.