Patient stories
Living well with home dialysis
People who are doing home treatments today can tell you what it's like to live, work, and enjoy life with home dialysis. We've interviewed patients who use any of the five modalities, and featured their stories here to show you that people can lead normal, active lives with dialysis. Read their compelling stories!
Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) stories
Gloria Allard
"PD is a good choice for people who have active, busier lifestyles."
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/allard/
Sherryl Drone
"I can do what I want with my day."
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/drone/
Lisa
"Pets are good buddies and a source of security aside from family and friends."
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/lisa/
Nicole
"I'm happy to tell people about kidney disease and PD."
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/nicole/
Tracie
"I would encourage PD for anybody who can do it. Whoever invented PD had a good idea!"
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/tracie/
Angel Velez
"It's a good option, and people should try it."
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/velez/
Continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis (CCPD or APD) stories
Connie
"Life doesn't stop because you have kidney failure."
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/connie/
Mary Ann Domingo
"If you go on peritoneal dialysis, you can do anything."
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/domingo/
Edward
"Peritoneal dialysis is more than just a treatment. It is a way of life, a way to live as normal as possible, and get your dialysis in the comfort of your own home."
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/edward/
Bob Gibbs
"I try to work dialysis into my life, not the other way around."
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/gibbs/
John Hrivnak
"From the perspective of lifestyle, PD does not disrupt what you normally do."
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/hrivnak/
Janet
"PD gives you more flexibility and allows you to make decisions about how to work dialysis into the family structure."
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/janet/
Mary Karon Lewis
"I never thought my life could be so normal on dialysis."
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/lewis/
Lori
"You have to get information to ask your doctor questions and make changes that will help you feel better," Lori explains. "Most importantly, know that you are not alone."
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/lori/
Linda
"I chose home dialysis because I thought it would be more natural."
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/linda/
Kelly Miller
"I can still do what I want to do."
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/miller/
Niki
"I recommend it because of the flexible schedule, and because it's more like your own kidneys."
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/niki/
Donald Platnick
"Make sure everything is in place so you can do your dialysis when you travel."
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/platnick/
Manuel Sanchez
"Just because I'm sick doesn't mean I have to stay home—no way!"
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/sanchez/
Tish Sandoval
"If you have to do dialysis, this is the way to go!"
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/sandoval/
Raymond Sorenson
"9:30 pm. CLICK - Turn on the dialysis machine..."
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/sorenson/
Willis
"I'm not going to change my life because I'm on this machine."
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/willis/
Kelvin Wright
"If you're active, PD would help you. You've got your freedom."
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/wright/
Conventional home hemodialysis stories
Alex Clay
"A positive attitude helps. I try not to be negative. Dialysis is just something I've got to do to feel better."
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/clay/
Learn more about conventional home hemodialysis.
Daily home hemodialysis stories
Dwain Burton
"If you're going to dialyze, home is the way to go."
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/burton/
Jake Casey
"The system is perfectly safe and anyone can do it!"
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/casey/
Joe Contreras
"The best part of my treatment is the freedom it allows."
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/contreras/
Shane Carmen Dietz
"Home dialysis save my life and gave me new hope for a brighter future."
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/dietz/
Debbie
"Dialysis used to run my life, now I run my life!"
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/debbie/
Eric
"For anyone who is active or doesn't want to quit their job, home dialysis is great. You can live life like a normal, healthy person."
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/eric/
Erich Ditschman
"I couldn't be happier than when I'm spending time with my wife and children, and NxStage certainly allows for that!"
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/ditschman/
Bill Doherty
"The NxStage machine is really a breakthrough, and I am glad that I can take advantage of it. Thanks to the NxStage, Nancy and I can do what we want to do."
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/doherty/
Harvey
"I think home hemodialysis is the best thing since sliced bread."
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/harvey/
Judy
"Home dialysis grants me more freedom than I ever had in-center."
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/judy/
Carol Keller
"The choices I've made let me be in charge of my life."
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/keller/
Ken
"Home hemodialysis gave me my life back—life didn't end with dialysis."
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/ken/
Michael Lynn
"I would absolutely encourage dialysis patients to have this treatment."
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/lynn/
James Manning
"It is important for others to see and know the progress that many of us have made by the modality of daily home dialysis."
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/manning/
Judith Mead
"I have the freedom to do the treatment anytime I want."
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/mead/
Melvin
"I have no ill effects—it's like I never went on dialysis at all."
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/melvin/
David & Paz
"We...would recommend home dialysis for anybody who is physically able to do it!"
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/paz/
Penny
"For those who want a tighter grip on the preservation of their own lives, this is the right thing to do."
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/penny/
Phyllis
"This system is so convenient I can do the treatment at any time!"
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/phyllis/
Everette Reed
"This machine will allow me to have a long life."
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/reed/
Rick Skiles
"I like to be in charge of the situation, and now I am."
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/skiles/
Ryan Stanger
"Having the freedom to travel and being able to do therapy anywhere and at anytime I want is great!"
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/stanger/
NxStage Reunion
Home Dialysis Patients Celebrate 2-Year Anniversary
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/reunion/
Learn more about daily home hemodialysis.
Nocturnal home hemodialysis stories
Michael Bebb
"It gives me freedom."
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/bebb/
Melissa Bensouda
"Now, I am able to work full time and fit my treatments into my life."
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/bensouda/
Joyce Cagle
"Every aspect of my health has improved."
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/cagle/
Ralph Colongione
"Dialysis is not the end of the road—there is an amazing and wonderful life with dialysis!"
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/colongione/
John Evers
"I started training to do my own dialysis at the age of 81!"
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/evers/
Bill Peckham
"People shouldn't live to dialyze but to have a life and do the things they were meant to do."
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/peckham/
Amy Staples
"I would recommend it to anyone willing to give it a hearty try. The work is so worth the rewards."
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/staples/
Sarah Taxman
"You have your life back."
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/taxman/
Lisa
Lisa acknowledges that home dialysis is a big step for many patients. "Just remember, they won't send you home until you're ready," she advises. "Take that leap of faith and try it. The results are so worth it."
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/lisav/
Wanda Wilson
"You couldn't pay me to go back to the clinic!"
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/wilson/
Learn more about nocturnal home hemodialysis.
In-center nocturnal hemodialysis stories
Anndrea
"I would definitely suggest to anyone that they try it."
Read more »http://www.homedialysis.org/resources/stories/anndrea/