Sam’s Story

Imagine having a young family while being on dialysis, at hospital three times a week for four hours, whilst also being blind. This is my life. I’m a young man with two young children one in school and one in nursery.

Whilst being blind and on dialysis for the last 3 1/2 years has had its challenges, my life is very very rewarding and I wouldn’t change it for the world even though I have all these difficulties, it doesn’t matter. I still have my family.

Both my CKD and my blindness was caused by diabetes when I was diagnosed at age 11. Before I started dialysis, I was a IT lecturer at a large further education institution in computing and IT in Bristol.

As I’ve said even though my life is very challenging, it is incredibly rewarding, the only thing I can’t do is see or drive. I am currently on the waiting list for a kidney and pancreas transplant so it is just a waiting game until that all happens, and I can go back to carrying on my career and my life. In my experience CKD does not prevent you from doing anything It just means you have to adapt.