WHY I WALK Here's my story I walk because January 2007 I was diagnosed with Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), is scarring of the glomeruli (part of kidney that filters waste from the blood). I was monitored by my nephrologist (kidney specialist) for the next 3 years. October 2010, after coming back from a trip to Maryland with my church family, my doctor decided it was time to place a fistula (artificial artery) so that IF I needed dialysis, I would be prepared. 2 years passed, January 2012, I started dialysis three days a week. It was the scariest thing I ever had to do in my life but I DID IT! 🙌🏾 With God and the support of my family & friends, I was able to endure! 💝 I went from In-center hemodialysis (blood transferring outside of body through machine back to body) to At-home hemodialysis, back In-center then home again for Peritoneal dialysis (no blood transference). Fast forward to year 2017, I've now had to go back to In-center hemodialysis due to blood levels not improving. Stayed there for 5 months then was able to go back home to continue Peritoneal dialysis. I'm still living my good & blessed life during alllll of this. 🥰 Here comes the good part. ☺️ After starting school in July 2018, I get a phone call 3 weeks into class to tell me I am 2nd in line (8/7/18). Very first phone call ever during my 6.5 years of being on the kidney transplant list. The following morning I receive a call that wakes me up out of my sleep (8/9/18), I verify who I am and they tell me the person ahead of me isn't able to receive the kidney & asked me how long it would take me to get to the hospital. Tears began to flow and a Thank You to God from my lips 🙌🏾 Made it to the hospital & everything happened so fast. Surgery was a success and I am blessed to say that I am a 4 year Kidney Transplant & CKD SURVIVOR!!!! 🤩🙌🏾💚💪🏾🙌🏾💚 That is WHY I WALK!!! I also walk for my Aunt, the late Annette Wilson Hoover who lost her battle Dec. 2020. RIH Auntie 💚💜💚💜 I walk for my cousin, Larissa D. Hudson who is also a SURVIVOR (transplanted Aug. 2020) 💚💚💚 We Walk Together b/c we're Stronger Together 💪🏾💚 & I walk to support the lifechanging work of the National Kidney Foundation: - To ensure that families will have a place to turn when they need answers. - To keep up the fight for policy changes to protect kidney patients and living donors. - To drive innovation in transplantation and get more loved ones off the kidney transplant waitlist. Are you with me? PLEASE CONSIDER SUPPORTING MY EFFORTS WITH A GENEROUS DONATION.