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March7 -> Chronic Kidney Failure (CKD) Support Thread (6/2/2008 5:34:15 PM)
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[sm=wave.gif]I wondered if there are others of you who have Chronic Kidney Disease/Failure (CKD). Perhaps you're pre-dialysis, on dialysis, or have had a kidney transplant. What is the reason for your CKD? How are you doing? What are your concerns? What are you doing medically? Does God use your illness to help you serve others, to teach you about Himself? What're your stories of the Lord's faithfulness? How can we encourage one another to fight the good fight of faith and to press on in Christ? I'm not one who can give medical advice, and my CKD is relatively mild, but I know we can just encourage and help one another.
Here's my little story... I have Stage 3 CKD (in addition to a couple other much-more-minor chronic conditions). I was born with (kidney-ureter) valve reflux. The significant kidney damage wasn't discovered till my early twenties, but my function was still fine. Over the years, I continued to have recurrent kidney infections (some lowgrade and chronic and some acute). It wasn't until I was forty that the valve reflux was confirmed. I've had some great doctors, but in more recent years, even as I've had worse infections more often, I had a series of ho-hum doctors...until this year when God blessed me with a very proactive doctor. He's the first to check my kidney function (with the 24-hour urine collection and such) in twenty years! So, in April, I learned about the CKD. (I'm awaiting the results of the May test.) This doctor treats my infections aggressively, whereas for a few years no one would, and he even has a plan for seeking to heal and restore some function. That's the medical plan, through which and over which God can do as He purposes. (Plus, the Lord allows me to share my faith in bits and pieces with this fellow.) [:)] But, you know, our Lord gives amazing grace! In the last fifteen years, my severely damaged kidneys have withstood two childbirths (1992 and 1995) and a year of cancer treatment (chemo followed by radiation for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 1996). I'm on a kidney patient forum, and there I was told I must be a walking miracle to not yet be needing dialysis or a transplant. See, some of those kidney patients with my condition had complete failure by age 30 (I'm 44). So, I can attest to the faithfulness of a loving, giving, healing, mighty, and gently intimate God! So, I praise the God and Father of my Lord Jesus Christ.
So, please share your CKD story. May we all be encouraged in Christ and helpful to one another. [sm=icon_smile_fish.gif]
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