Looking to connect with other students with CKD

[elb22]

Hello! I graduated from college this May and I'm preparing to start a creative career in marketing and design. But first I need a transplant. It's been about 6 years since my diagnosis and it would have been nice to be connected with other students who are managing kidney disease and school. It hasn't been an easy journey and I've felt particularly alone navigating a disease where most patients I know are middle-aged or older. I'm curious to know if there are other students in this online community who are seeking to connect with peers with CKD. Let's chat about how you balance getting dialysis / transplant with school, friendships and relationships, and getting a job. Based on my own experience, I'm conducting some exploratory research to better understand the needs of young adult kidney patients. Please don't hesitate to respond to this post!

[SOct91]

Hi! I’m not a student anymore but also not middle aged (early 30s). I have had my transplant since childhood but navigated college, grad school, jobs, relationships, all of it. So I don’t know how much help I’d be but feel free to reach out!

[nsil]

Hi there! I am 26 and I had my transplant three years ago while I was at university. I had to take a year out of uni. It all went very well!! Please ask me anything x n

[Cynstem]

I love that you are researching this!! My son is a mechanical engineering student at UC Davis. My older boy gave him his kidney this past year. Both donor and recipient are doing fine but my transplant recipient is really overwhelmed right now! I think he was just finally adapting to his new life with the additional precautions needed. He was back to playing Club Baseball for his school & enjoying feeling really good for the first time in years! Then... COVID 19! I can’t get him to reach out to any of these support resources because he feels a bit alienated by his age.