I was not looking for kidney disease when it found me. It surfaced during a routine pre-op workup for a completely unrelated procedure. After advocating for myself and pushing for a follow-up, I was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease in 2021. I am not on dialysis yet, but I know it’s not a question of if but when. That reality drives me to advocate. I have friends in the dialysis community living this right now, and I watch them navigate a system that too often fails to keep pace with the treatments that could help them. Innovations in kidney care, [...]

In 2020, COVID-19 caused my kidneys to fail. I spent five months in the hospital, four of them on a ventilator, and my wife was called and told to consider pulling the plug and letting me go. I survived, spent two years on peritoneal dialysis, and eventually received a lifesaving kidney transplant in 2023. Living through kidney failure opened my eyes to the fact that too many people don't know what help and resources are available to them, and that's because no one tells them. That has to change, and so does the way we support patients while they're on [...]

I learned I had polycystic kidney disease just before my wedding. What followed was 13 years of dialysis, the loss of my husband before he could donate his perfectly matched kidney, and years of fighting through grief, illness and uncertainty. Kidney disease affects entire families. In my case, because polycystic kidney disease is genetic, multiple relatives have faced dialysis. That’s why I became an advocate, a social worker and an educator. I’ve spent years writing books and hosting “The Lisa Baxter Show” to help patients understand how to care for themselves and navigate treatment. Patients need more than dialysis. They [...]

I was born with kidney failure. I started dialysis at 14, received a transplant at 16, and after 13 years, I’m back on dialysis again. Living with kidney disease my entire life has taught me one thing: access to the right treatment at the right time makes all the difference. Yet too many dialysis patients, especially young people, face constant barriers to innovative therapies. Whether it’s treatments for anemia, infection prevention, or medications to reduce phosphorus, insurance systems fail to keep up with medical advancements. When that happens, patients pay the price with their health. As a patient and someone [...]

In April 2022, I was diagnosed with kidney failure. By August, I had started dialysis and soon had to stop working full-time. Overnight, my life changed. Dialysis became my new reality, and every day was focused on simply making it through treatment and staying healthy enough to keep going. Kidney failure affects people from every walk of life, including professionals, caregivers and community members who want to continue contributing to society. Patients need more than basic treatment that keeps them alive. They need access to the newest medications, improved dialysis technologies, and innovative care options that can improve outcomes and [...]

My daughter, Diana, passed away at 45 due to complications from kidney failure. Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 6, she later showed signs of kidney disease and needed dialysis for more than two years. Diana received two kidney transplants. The first, in 2008, was a gift from her aunt. We were fortunate that the transplant costs were covered. Without that support, too many living donor transplants are denied because of insurance barriers. In 2018, Diana was placed on the transplant list, and just one week later, she received a perfect match. Still, her challenges didn’t end there. A [...]

In 2017, I had a heart attack, stroke, and was diagnosed with kidney failure. I soon began dialysis, the only treatment besides a transplant for kidney failure. Thankfully, I received a transplant more than three years ago. I may be post-transplant, but I know many who are still on dialysis, including my mother. My sisters and I have been caring for her through her dialysis journey. We couldn’t imagine our mother going through this alone. Yet, many patients don’t have support systems. That’s why we need a system that’s fair and forward-looking, one that doesn’t abandon patients. That’s why I’m [...]