As a kidney recipient, I happen to have firsthand knowledge of the kidney failure process.
On or about December 18, 2018, I was rushed to the hospital because I couldn’t breathe or sleep at night. This had been going on for maybe two months. Every night was exhausting. My body was so depleted that I could barely walk the dog.
At that time, I had a Rottweiler named “Dynasty.” She had been with me for over 11 years. She was the center of my world at that time—until I met my wife. I met my wife during this entire process, and she is my guardian angel. She was sent from above. Without her, I would not be here writing this letter.
Thank you, Bessie.
At the age of about 45, I was working as a contractor, and we were doing a roofing installation. While standing on that roof, I became extremely dizzy and almost fell two stories to the ground. If it hadn’t been for the help of my subcontractors, I could have been seriously injured.
The dizzy spell was so severe that I had to go to the hospital. It was then that they informed me that I had high blood pressure. Now, I could have had this condition for a while, but this was when I was officially notified.
High blood pressure is one of the leading causes of kidney disease and kidney failure. Not knowing the effects of high blood pressure can lead you straight to the nephrology department and a dialysis chair.
“Dialysis is a treatment that removes waste and excess fluid from the blood when the kidneys are no longer functioning properly.”
Dialysis can last anywhere from three to six hours per session, typically on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, or Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. This is a good time to reflect, gather your thoughts, and decide how you are going to live the rest of your life.
I decided that life was worth living, so I did everything my doctor told me to do. I kept all of my appointments, made adjustments to my diet, and took life seriously.
For those of you who see dialysis as the beginning of the end, let me tell you—that’s not the case. It is a new beginning. It is a means of keeping you alive while you make the necessary adjustments to move your life forward.
That is how I’m getting through this whole process. I have always kept a positive attitude about my situation. So, if you are taking the time to read my story, then I’m speaking truth into life. This may be your journey also, so find the thing that gives you spiritual joy. Hold it near to your heart and make the decision to live.
In my case, I did dialysis on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for three hours and 45 minutes each session. After my treatments, I would have a short-term burst of energy for approximately two hours. After that, I would have to rest until the next day. When I woke up, I felt like a new man—not 100%, but a good 65 to 70%.
This went on for six years, and during that time, I was still able to work. I got married to the most wonderful woman, who has been my greatest inspiration. We purchased our dream home, I added an addition to my deck, built a concrete patio with a gazebo, started a food truck project, built my website, and most of all, I took up fishing.
On or about May 11, 2023, I lost my companion, Dynasty. We had been through a lot together. Man, I could tell you some stories, but I’ll just share one with you.
Dynasty was a beautiful, intimidating 100-pound Rottweiler. We had been together so long that she thought she was my wife.
One day, we were in the Walmart parking lot getting ready to park. I was waiting for the vehicle in front of me to move. I had been sitting there for what seemed like an hour. The vehicle finally started to pull out, and I began to move forward.
Then, all of a sudden, another vehicle in the same aisle saw the parking space open up. Even though the driver had seen me waiting, he decided to rush into the space. I was infuriated.
I slammed my car into park, jumped out, opened the back door, let Dynasty out, and we walked over to the driver’s side of the guy’s car. We stood there, waiting for him to get out—and we were angry.
He knew we weren’t playing, and he didn’t want that smoke, so he begrudgingly backed out and moved to the other side of the parking lot since the lot was full.
Dynasty and I got back into the car, pulled into the parking spot, and went on about our business, high-fiving each other.
Dedicated to Dynasty.
In 2017, I started a nonprofit organization called The Holy Smokes Foundation. The purpose of this organization is to unite communities so that we can address some of our most basic needs through family-friendly fun, entertainment, and education.
Meanwhile, I was approached by one of my oldest friends, who happens to reside right here in Atlanta. She asked me about the purpose of my organization.
Dedicated to Mr. and Mrs. Carl and Robbie Washington.
Robbie Terry Washington, whom I’ve known since she was eight or nine and I was 13, explained to me on several occasions that it was a good thing to have a nonprofit organization, but that it needed to be structured around something I was truly passionate about.
So here we are: passion, purpose, and personal experience.
Thank you, Robbie.
Kidney disease is a major issue in our communities. As of September 30, 2024, there are approximately 518,970 people on dialysis in the United States. Globally, it is almost 4 million.
The first successful dialysis treatment was performed in 1945 by Willem Johan Kolff on a 67-year-old woman. The patient regained consciousness after 11 hours of hemodialysis and lived for another seven years.
High blood pressure, diabetes, genetic diseases, autoimmune diseases, urinary tract problems, and certain medications can all be causes of kidney failure or kidney disease.
Just think—approximately 80 years ago, there was no treatment for kidney disease, so people simply passed on. Today, modern science has evolved so much that you can still live a fulfilling life, even if you are on dialysis. Furthermore, transplants are being performed every single day.
So, my message to you is this: choose life, because life is worth living. Be thankful for every day, because every day is another opportunity to get better and fulfill your divine purpose.
