LIFESTYLE
Kidney Disease is Not Who You Are How Marie-Eve has learned how to live well on dialysis by Heidi Westfield
I have end-stage kidney disease, and have been on dialysis for five years. Over that time, I have gone on vacation to Florida, spent a week in Niagara Falls and visited my parents’ cottage in Quebec. Just recently, I became the proud mother of a healthy baby boy while on dialysis. Liam was born last November, with the help of a specialized team of kidney doctors.
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y name is Marie-Eve, and I have decided not to let kidney disease control my life. I have found ways to start a family and do activities that people with this condition may not realize are still possible. My journey with kidney disease started with the way I was born. I came into this world in 1981 with just one kidney, and as a child was followed by a nephrologist. When I was 20 years old, I was diagnosed with high blood pressure. I was given medication, but stopped taking it after a few months. I was young and was moving from city to city for my studies. I didn’t understand what high blood pressure could do to my health. One day in October 2012, I woke up feeling really sick. I was seeing black dots and had a terrible headache. I went to work, but didn’t feel any better. When I checked my blood pressure at a nearby pharmacy it was 250/200. I was admitted to hospital that day. Doctors diagnosed me with end-stage kidney disease; my kidney was working at only 15 percent. It was the news that would change my life forever. After my blood pressure was back under control, I was released from hospital. Shortly after, I met a team of kidney doctors who to this day help me manage my condition. My first kidney transplant, from a friend, was in the spring of 2014. It did not go as expected. The kidney moved inside of me, and after five days it failed completely. Eight months later I had another transplant, also from a friend. The new kidney was working well at first, but soon my body began to reject it. The doctors tried everything, but I had a massive rejection in July 2016. It was a difficult time. I was full of emotions and very sick. It took about two to three months for me to get back on my feet. When I was well enough, I chose a hybrid treatment of peritoneal and hemodialysis. The treatment was effective, and soon I returned to work full time. I love the water, but on dialysis I couldn’t go swimming in a pool or the ocean. My fiancé is very supportive, and has helped me find ways to enjoy these activities again. We were able to protect both my catheters with a waterproof dressing. In 2019, we travelled to Florida and spent four weeks there. I set up dialysis sessions at a local hospital, and was able to t Marie-Eve and her fiancé
14 / Kidney Living / Spring 2021
kidney.ca
