Quiana’s Story

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is the progressive deterioration of kidney function. Current management of kidney disease includes dialysis as a means to filter toxins from the blood once the kidneys have failed. A vast majority of these patients with CKD on dialysis experience hyperphosphatemia, or abnormally elevated levels of phosphorous in their blood.

“I was working at a daycare taking care of really small infants and noticed that I was I starting to get sluggish. I couldn’t keep up with the kids anymore. Then I started to look like I was nine months pregnant, and I moved like I was nine months pregnant,” shares Quiana. “So, I went to the emergency room, and they were the ones that told me, ‘Hey, your kidneys aren’t working. That’s just fluid building up on you.’ And everything from there went fast.”

Quiana was familiar with the life of a kidney patient. Her father also had kidney disease, before succumbing to an infection that ended his life. However, that didn’t make it less scary. Eight years following her diagnosis, Quiana continues to struggle to manage her chronic kidney disease.

“I’ve learned to kind of cope and push through it. I’ve turned dialysis into my job.”

And it has become her job. Both her health and her rigorous dialysis schedule — three times a week for three hours and forty-five minutes — required her to stop working. To fill up her time and lift her spirits, Quiana has taken up hobbies, like crafting, painting, and gardening.

“I realized crafting takes my mind off any pain I have,” she shares. “Even when I’m feeling drained, I’ll get up and I’ll either paint or I’ll glue stuff together… I made a whole studio in my house.”

Quiana also spends a lot of time with her 18-year-old son Jay, who she describes as her biggest motivation to keep fighting. “Life is just starting for him, and I think he’s going to need me. I think I’ve done a good job so far and I just wouldn’t want to leave him, you know?”

In addition to the challenges presented with dialysis, Quiana also has trouble managing her phosphorus levels.

“Phosphorus is my only issue. Everything else is in line. At my dialysis center they make a little report card. The only thing that comes back crazy is my phosphorus, and they’re always like, ‘Quiana, you know better.’”

The amount of phosphorus in the blood is heavily influenced by diet. Quina is very mindful of managing her phosphorus levels and has learned to cook differently, be more precise in measurements, avoid certain foods, and limit fluid intake. This can sometimes mean making two different meals for her and her family, eating very small portions, or completely avoiding food or drink while out.

When thinking about her journey with dialysis and hyperphosphatemia, Quiana shares, “I just refuse to lay down. I can’t. I always tell people I have too much to do. I mean, there’s things to paint and make and bake and, all those fun things to do. Nothing’s going to stop me at this point. I hate when I don’t feel good, but I’ll fight through that too.”