World Kidney Day 2016! ~ Testimonies from two of Eta Sigma Delta's Sisters~

World Kidney Day is March 10, 2016 however, Eta Sigma Delta will be honoring this day on March 12, 2016 with a heath fair which will offer free medical exams to everyone from 6 pm to 8 pm slt.  There will be much needed information that will help you be more aware of the disease as well as ways to try to prevent it.

The mission of World Kidney Day: World Kidney Day aims to raise awareness of the importance of our kidneys to our overall health and to reduce the frequency and impact of kidney disease and its associated health problems worldwide.

▶▷World Kidney Day is a global awareness campaign aimed at raising awareness of the importance of our kidneys.
▶▷World Kidney Day comes back every year. All across the globe many hundred events take place from public screenings in Argentina to Zumba marathons in Malaysia. We do it all to create awareness. Awareness about preventive behaviors, awareness about risk factors, and awareness about how to live with a kidney disease. We do this because we want kidney health for all.
...▶▷Are you at risk?

Do you have high blood pressure?
Do you suffer from diabetes?
Do you have a family history of kidney disease?
Are you overweight?
Do you smoke?
Are you over 50 years?
Are you of African, Hispanic, Aboriginal or Asian origin?
▶▷If you have answered yes to one or more of these questions, you should discuss with your doctor, you may need testing for kidney disease! Early chronic kidney disease has no sign or symptoms. You can help delay or prevent kidney failure by treating kidney disease early.
▶▷Take care of yourself! Get Involved!!

Experiences with Kidney disease from two sisters of Eta Sigma Delta....


Mandalyn's story....

My Name is Mandalyn, and this is my story on Kidney disease.  It affects thousands of people each year, I should know because I'm one of them.

I've been told by my parents that this all started back when I was 2 years old with Renal failure. My mom was told that I was completely fixed, but back then who truly knew. It wasn't until after my 15th birthday that it would come back to haunt me, more than my parents thought of course. I remember it clearly, it was June 15th, right after my mom's birthday, I went in for a normal check up and my mom was told I would go on dialysis that year.

I spent 8 months in the hospital that year, I even had my 16th birthday there as well, what a thrill huh to be 16 and no sweet 16 party to brag about or I got a car for my birthday at school. To think this can happen to you at the age of 16, my thoughts were, “Are they joking?  This isn't even possible, I'm 16 and this is my best year ever!” Getting to drive a car and a party is what any one of us thinks about at that time but for me, it wasn't so i spent it in a different way.

The truth of the matter is it can happen to anyone, so getting checked is something I always recommend, don't ignore the signs! I take 9 pills in the morning and 9 pills at night, it's nothing great and fancy but the fact is that, I'm alive to see the sunset and sunrise each day which is  the blessing God has given me all these years.

I feel truly alive after all this has happened and it's not the end of the road because it happens to you, it wasn't mine.  My mom gave me her kidney so I could live and if it wasn't for her to be my match I could still be in a hospital or not at all but the simple fact, God gave me the reason to live and told me it's not my time and go out there and to help others. I spend two days out of my week which are my days off going to hospitals to speak with others like me to let them know it's going to be alright the best is yet to come. I read stories, or just talk to them,  and get to know them. I spend about 8 hours between both days doing so, for me it's my way of giving back to those who are just like me, who are where I was these some odd years ago.  

Don’t ever take anything for granted in this life, but if you are just like me in the beginning stages, hold your head up high because you my friend, you're going to make it, I just know it!

Thank you for letting me share my story I hope it enlightens some and encourages others to help out and donate or donate their time at the hospital for this wonderful cause.

Destiny's story...

While I am not directly affected by kidney disease, I am very, very close to it. Almost 4 years ago my one and only brother was diagnosed with kidney failure. When I heard this news it crushed my heart because at the percentage his kidneys were functioning I just knew I was going to lose my brother.... But GOD! My oldest niece, who is my brother's daughter got tested and by the grace of God she was a match and was willing to be a donor for her father.

The testing began and then came the surgery and all went well for my brother and my niece, however.... A little over year later we were right back where we started from and he was back in the hospital with something terribly going wrong. This put my brother into a depression to have to go through dialysis and everything once again but with prayers from his family and himself, God gave him the strength to move on and get on the list for another transplant.

A year after that, my husband who has sickle cell became gravely ill and it was then that we learned that he too was in kidney failure with his kidneys only functioning at 7 percent. He was immediately put on dialysis and to this day he goes to dialysis 3 times a week. With my husband, he has two very serious diseases and the same goes for my brother. With the sickle cell, this is how my husband ended up with kidney disease. During sickle cell crisis the body organs are broken down and over time organs get damaged. With my brother, he has diabetes which also causes organ damage.

Both were told even with a new kidney, it is not a long term solution because of the ailment they already have.

This disease is serious and everyone should know what the symptoms are because if your kidneys are not functioning that means the waste that our body's make on a daily basis is not being removed.

I pray everyday for a better health report for my brother and my husband. I also get involved and have my own self tested as a donor because even if you cannot help financially, donors are needed everyday....

Stay informed...

Destiny aka Big Sister On Point