Living proof that end-stage kidney disease is not the end

At the age of just 36, Edward Campher suffered a stroke. Two years later he received a shock diagnosis of end-stage kidney failure. A quarter of a century later, he shares his life-affirming personal journey as we celebrate World Kidney Day on March 13.

“The first time a doctor tells you that you are in end-stage renal failure, it is a lot to process. It feels like you are coming to terms with the end of your life. Before this, I was an active primary school teacher, coaching rugby, cricket, athletics, and table tennis. My health wouldn’t allow that life anymore. At first, I just couldn’t accept it,” recalled Campher, now 62.

Read more: Must-know basics of chronic kidney disease

Now, after some 25 years on dialysis, he says he is living proof of the possibilities that life holds for people who are faced with kidney failure, as he still enjoys attending sports matches with his son, tending to his garden, and spending time with his friends and beloved wife.

For all these years, Campher has been having dialysis three times every week. First at National Renal Care (NRC) Netcare Garden City before relocating to the Western Cape and transferring to NRC George for his treatment.

Also read: Five healthy food tips for your kidneys

Campher had been living with type 2 diabetes before his stroke, which paralysed his left arm and leg, before being diagnosed with kidney failure. Yet the dietary changes he made, supported by NRC, improved his blood sugar control to such an extent that from March 2000 onwards he no longer required treatment for diabetes.

“Very often, kidney disease is silent, with no noticeable symptoms, until kidney failure is imminent. It can strike at any age,” said Tilly Govender, clinical executive of NRC. She said, according to information of the South African Renal Registry in 2021, the leading cause of chronic kidney disease was hypertension, with 38% of patients reporting high blood pressure. Other risk factors include: a family history of kidney disease, diabetes, trauma, infections, and long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and pain relievers, among others.

With early detection, it’s possible to significantly slow deteriorating kidney function and delay the need for dialysis. “Patient engagement and empowerment are truly crucial aspects of managing kidney disease effectively, and NRC units partner with renal patients and their caregivers on their treatment journey, focusing on what matters most to them,” Govender says.

“I am living a normal life, and I am the same person I was before. I told my friends: ‘You don’t have to treat me any differently’. I am still active in my church and my community of dialysis colleagues, and we support each other,” said Campher.

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