Back in the early ’90s, I was experiencing some nagging discomfort in my side and lower back, and after an ultrasound, discovered that my kidneys were covered with cysts.

I didn’t know it then, but this discovery would affect my entire family. 

You see, shortly thereafter, I was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease, which meant that my kidney function would slowly diminish as I grew older. Now my kidneys are only working at 6% and they’ve essentially failed.

Unfortunately, this is a genetic disorder. After being tested, my father discovered that he also had the disease. He’d gone through his whole life without realizing it! My father’s sister and three of my siblings were also diagnosed.

I’m now on hemodialysis because of my decreased level of kidney function, and my kidneys are the size of footballs because of the cysts. Although it’s an inconvenience to receive dialysis three times a week, I’m thankful for this treatment. Sixty years ago, people didn’t survive for long when their kidneys failed.

After starting dialysis in January of this year, I am feeling so much better! I also recently had a nephrectomy, which is a surgery to remove one of my kidneys in order to make room for a transplanted kidney in the future. Because of my polycystic kidney disease, there just isn’t room in there for two kidneys!

I’m hoping to receive my transplant as soon as I possibly can. I’ve enrolled in the Canadian Blood Services Living Donor Paired Exchange Registry, with my wife, and I’m also on the transplant list. I’ll wait as long as it takes because I’ll never be off dialysis without a new kidney.

My father was one of the lucky ones to receive a transplant. His new kidney was functioning terrifically for the final years of his life. He always stayed really positive about the process. It’s because of my dad that I also try to look on the brighter side of having kidney disease. 

Unfortunately, the majority of people on dialysis are unable to get a kidney transplant, so I feel tremendously privileged that I was able to receive a new kidney this spring, thanks to a donation made by my amazing wife! My new kidney is functioning well, and there's a distinct sense of relief and freedom knowing that we don't have to juggle family plans and events around my dialysis schedule.
 
I'm one of the very lucky ones and I know that I'll continue to turn to The Kidney Foundation for support and engagement, and trust that the research they're funding will help lead to more positive outcomes for others.

Meet Craig's Family