Health-e (Cape Town)
Thandi Zondi
10 July 2009
Kidney problems can affect anyone, but it mainly afflicts those who suffer from hypertension and diabetes. In some cases it is hereditary. Those diagnosed with kidney failure are required to undergo treatment until they receive a kidney transplant.
The wait for a kidney transplant can be a lengthy process as there are few willing donors in South Africa. It is at this time that those diagnosed with kidney failure require family and friends' support.
Patricia Mncube, 55, has been on haemodialysis treatment for nine years. Her treatment requires that she spends four hours on a dialysis machine three times a week.
Mncube has been through difficult times. She says she did not "receive support" from her family as "they did not understand what kidney failure is", she says.
"I didn't receive support because my family didn't know a thing about kidney failure and they didn't understand why I had it".
Due to lack of information, her family attempted to take her to traditional medicine practitioners, convinced that they will save her life.
"They wanted to take me to traditional healers and make me do things that I did not want to do. But I refused. They even thought that I was HIV- positive", she says.
"But I knew the actual cause of my kidney failure. I wasn't taking my high blood pills as directed by the doctor", admits Mncube.
Over the years, Mncube has learned that the majority of society does not have sufficient knowledge about kidney disease. Everywhere she goes, she encounters ignorance.
"They examine you to see whether you do have kidneys or not. And if you tell them that you do have kidneys they then ask: 'What exactly is your problem because you have kidneys, what will you do with the third one?', cried Mncube.
Once a person has kidney failure, it can affect their lifestyle. The patient requires family support as they can no longer do a lot for themselves, and this places a huge burden on the family.
"My life has changed; I no longer have the strength I used to have. I do house chores but cannot finish them, as I quickly get tired. Kidney failure affects everything in your body, your mind, eyes (poor eyesight), ears (cannot hear), and legs (get cramps). You loose appetite, be short tempered, you encounter a lot of things", she said.
Mncube has been on haemodialysis treatment for almost a decade. She has now accepted her illness as it has become part of her life.
"I have accepted my illness, I will not give up, I will continue with my treatment until I find a donor, if I don't I will stick to haemodialysis treatment. That is why I'm still alive even today. I'm still strong. This illness has become my friend. I don't let it ruin my life. I know that some day it will come to an end.
Mncube's spiritual grounding has contributed to making her positive about life, and this gives her strength to cope with the illness.
"I get my strength from prayer when I communicate with God; and advices that I get from the hospital as I attend a support group", said Mncube.
Mncube says that she "will be thankful" if she can get a willing donor, as this will mean getting her normal life "back to normal".
Thousands of people die whilst still on the waiting list for a kidney transplant, more especially African people. Make a contribution, donate a kidney to those in need.
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