My Personal Connection to Kidney Disease

My mother was diagnosed with lupus on Valentine's Day in 2007.  She had experienced kidney complications prior to her diagnosis, but doctors were unable to pinpoint the cause of her kidney failure. Over the course of 9 years, she underwent many dialysis treatments, surgeries, and biopsies. As a child at the time, I became fascinated with the specialized nutrition interventions provided by her dietitian and it encouraged me to do my research. I became directly involved with her preparation of meals and learned about nutrition and med management along the way.

 In 2016, she received a kidney transplant, and I attended many appointments and learned about the transplant process. Unfortunately, in 2019 her transplant rejected, and she began dialysis again. During this time, she opted for home hemodialysis and asked me to become her caregiver. As an undergraduate at the time, I was enthusiastic about hemodialysis training and shadowing a renal dietitian simultaneously.

 After graduating with my degree in nutrition & dietetics, I was determined to continue my education to become a registered dietitian and make an impact.