Episode 161: From Palliative Care to Purpose: Rebecca’s Journey Through Kidney Failure, Dialysis & Transplant Loss

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.   Follow Diary of a Kidney Warrior:   📸Instagram: www.instagram.com/diaryofakidneywarrior  📘Facebook: www.facebook.com/diaryofakidneywarrior  🐦Twitter (X): www.twitter.com/diaryofakidneyw  🎵Tik Tok: @diaryofakidneywarrior  📺Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChGUfib7lu9eKENlLJ6lafw 🔵 BlueSky: @diaryofakidneyw.bsky.social   💌 Join the Diary of a Kidney Warrior Family Mailing List Get updates on new episodes, vlogs, newsletters, and more! 👉🏽👉 Sign up here: https://diaryofakidneywarrior.getform.com/rjv47   📲 Follow Diary of a Kidney Warrior on WhatsApp Stay updated with new episodes and exclusive content! 👉🏽👉 Join here: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaO3ms71iUxipp1eeh2r   Rebecca  📸Instagram: www.instagram.com/Rebecca.c.griffiths 📘Facebook: www.facebook.com/Rebecca Griffiths   Kidney Care UK   💻 Website: www.kidneycareuk.org 📧 [email protected] 📞Tel: 01420 541 424 📘Facebook: www.facebook.com/kidneycareuk.org 📷Instagram: @kidneycareuk 🔵Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/kidneycareuk.bsky.social 📺YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeqQTdAsEzXphqjHVtcTD-A   📩 To sign up to receive the Kidney Matters Quarterly Magazine Email: [email protected]       Disclaimer: The information shared in this episode is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your doctor, consultant, or qualified healthcare professional regarding your individual health needs and before making any medical decisions. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host, the Diary of a Kidney Warrior Podcast, or Kidney Care UK and are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organisation, company, individual or anyone or anything.   #DiaryOfAKidneyWarriorPodcast #KidneyWarrior #KidneyDisease #CKD #ChronicKidneyDisease #KidneyFailure #Dialysis #Haemodialysis #KidneyTransplant #TransplantJourney #TransplantFailure #OrganDonation #RenalPatient #KidneyHealth #PatientStory #ChronicIllness #InvisibleIllness #HealthPodcast #PatientAdvocacy #KidneyCommunity   Keywords: Kidney disease, CKD, chronic kidney disease, kidney failure, dialysis, haemodialysis, kidney transplant, transplant failure, organ donation, kidney patient, renal patient, kidney advocacy, patient experience, kidney warrior, chronic illness, transplant journey, kidney awareness, living well on dialysis, kidney health podcast, Diary of a Kidney Warrior Podcast.