Episode 161: From Palliative Care to Purpose: Rebecca’s Journey Through Kidney Failure, Dialysis & Transplant Loss
Diary of a Kidney Warrior Podcast | Kidney Health PodcastShow Notes
In this powerful episode of Diary of a Kidney Warrior Podcast, host Dee Moore is joined by Rebecca Griffiths, who shares her extraordinary journey through kidney failure, dialysis, kidney transplantation and transplant loss.
Rebecca’s story is one of resilience, determination and hope. After gaining approximately 25kg of fluid in a matter of days and requiring emergency treatment to drain fluid from around her heart, she found herself facing kidney failure without the support of a renal team. What followed was a life-changing journey that included dialysis, a kidney transplant, the devastating loss of that transplant and the challenge of starting again.
In this episode, Rebecca discusses:
💚 Her diagnosis and rapid decline in kidney function 💚 Gaining 25kg of fluid in just one week 💚 Having fluid drained from around her heart 💚 Being sent home under palliative care 💚 Starting dialysis and adapting to a new way of life 💚 Receiving a kidney transplant 💚 The emotional impact of transplant failure 💚 Returning to dialysis and rebuilding her confidence 💚 Speaking in Parliament to advocate for kidney patients 💚 Finding purpose, strength and hope despite adversity 💚 Why life is not over on dialysis
Rebecca’s story is a powerful reminder that even in life’s darkest moments, hope remains possible and that a meaningful life can still be lived despite kidney disease.
🎧 Listen now and be inspired by a remarkable Kidney Warrior who refused to give up.
If you enjoyed this episode, please: ✅ Follow Diary of a Kidney Warrior Podcast ✅ Leave a rating and review ✅ Share this episode with family, friends and healthcare professionals ✅ Help us raise awareness of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), dialysis, transplantation and organ donation
Medical Terms Explained eGFR — a blood test score for how well your kidneys filter. A healthy result is around 90 or above. Rebecca's was 5. Tessio line — a soft tube placed in the chest to connect you to a dialysis machine. Uremia — a dangerous build-up of waste in the blood when the kidneys can't filter it out. TPN — nutrition fed directly into a vein when you're too unwell to eat. Renal nutcracker syndrome — a rare condition where a vein near the kidney gets compressed, causing pain and damage.
SPK (Simultaneous Pancreas and Kidney transplant) — receiving a new pancreas and kidney in the same operation, often offered to people with type 1 diabetes. ICU — Intensive Care Unit, where the most seriously ill patients are monitored closely after major surgery. HDU — High Dependency Unit, a step down from intensive care for close monitoring during recovery. Biopsy — taking a tiny sample of tissue to check how the transplanted kidney is working. Anti-rejection drugs — medicines that stop the body's immune system from attacking a transplanted organ.
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Rebecca 📸Instagram: www.instagram.com/Rebecca.c.griffiths 📘Facebook: www.facebook.com/Rebecca Griffiths
Kidney Care UK
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