Kidney Matters - Issue 16 Spring 2022
Kidney Matters is our free quarterly magazine for everyone affected by kidney disease. This issue includes features on delayed graft function, the impact of CKD on families, friends and care-partners, improving organ donation, a husband's perspective on the challenges faced from caring for someone with CKD, and an article all about a family's journey from dialysis to transplant and all the things in between. As well as this, the Kidney Kitchen features a warming pear and blackberry crumble, perfect for Valentine's Day! We know that being a kidney patient can be tough at times and that accessing the right help at the right time isn’t always easy. We’ve spent a great deal of time talking and listening to kidney patients about what we can do to address this at every stage of kidney disease. The response was overwhelmingly ‘improved communication’ on what is going on in the kidney world, how other patients manage their life with kidney disease and what is available to them in terms of support and how to access it. Kidney Matters has been developed to tackle this as well as the many other issues kidney patients face in day-to-day life. Along with shared patient experiences, Kidney Matters provides information on how to access emotional and practical support, financial assistance through our grant schemes, advice from leading kidney specialists and tips on how to keep as well as possible by eating a healthy diet whilst on dialysis.
Kidney Matters is our free quarterly magazine for everyone affected by kidney disease.
This issue includes features on delayed graft function, the impact of CKD on families, friends and care-partners, improving organ donation, a husband's perspective on the challenges faced from caring for someone with CKD, and an article all about a family's journey from dialysis to transplant and all the things in between.
As well as this, the Kidney Kitchen features a warming pear and blackberry crumble, perfect for Valentine's Day!
We know that being a kidney patient can be tough at times and that accessing the right help at the right time isn’t always easy. We’ve spent a great deal of time talking and listening to kidney patients about what we can do to address this at every stage of kidney disease. The response was overwhelmingly ‘improved communication’ on what is going on in the kidney world, how other patients manage their life with kidney disease and what is available to them in terms of support and how to access it.
Kidney Matters has been developed to tackle this as well as the many other issues kidney patients face in day-to-day life. Along with shared patient experiences, Kidney Matters provides information on how to access emotional and practical support, financial assistance through our grant schemes, advice from leading kidney specialists and tips on how to keep as well as possible by eating a healthy diet whilst on dialysis.
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to question my close relationships and support
network. I realised that it was only my wife and me in
this storm.
As with any journey, there are times when the path
is straight and times when it’s winding. It is crucial
to draw a line somewhere and learn to recover. The
older I get, the more I realise that my version of
wellbeing is nurturing the relationships that matter
to me and staying active.
What do you feel needs to change?
Education about the impact of mental health issues
is required and needs to evolve, especially within
the South Asian community. No one should have to
suffer in silence.
“Those who have CKD, remember
that your journey may also silently
be being shared by your loved ones“
I want to ensure that men as partners, sons,
brothers, partners, patients or caregivers, do not shy
away from talking about mental health. The stigma
that ‘real’ men should not talk about their issues,
needs to stop. I was in that place, it was not easy, as
my default opinion pulls me to remain reticent.
“As a man, I had an inherent
and primal instinct to protect
her, save her from pain“
What have you learnt?
I now understand how inseparable mental and
physical health can be and how we should not
ostracise people for their feelings or their honesty.
I have accepted that it is fine for me to grieve, it does
not make me weak, and as a carer, I also have my
own journey. For those who have CKD, remember
that your journey may also silently be being shared
by your loved ones.
Interview by Sumaya Masood
Deputy Editor, Kidney Care UK
For emotional wellbeing advice
and information about the
support we offer to the families
of kidney patients, go to
www.kidneycareuk.org/learn-more
LEARN MORE
The photograph is for illustration only. Farris was pleased to be
interviewed, but preferred not to be photographed.
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