Learning to Live Again: My Journey Through CKD and Beyond!

There are moments in life when you truly feel the grace of God; unmistakable and undeniable. For me, this faith didn’t come easily; it arose through years of struggling with something that tested every fiber of my being. But when you find a guiding light in your darkest times, you know it’s His doing.

My journey with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) spans over a decade, and to say there weren’t moments of doubt would be a lie. Doubts were a constant companion, especially in the early days. I remember being 22, staring at lab reports and questioning the universe: “Why me?”. When most people my age were pursuing dreams, I felt trapped in a nightmare. But as I sit here today, six months post-kidney transplant, I want to share one thing with anyone facing a similar battle: there’s always something working in your favor, even if it’s not visible yet. There’s certainly a life waiting for you, better than you can imagine.

At 22, my kidneys were failing due to complications from tuberculosis. Dreams of a promising future faded into the background as I grappled with rising creatinine levels, shrinking kidneys, and a dwindling sense of hope. At the time, I thought my life had come to a halt. But looking back now, I know how wrong I was.

Over ten years, I endured countless blood tests and consultations with my nephrologist, Dr. Bharat Shah, who became a source of optimism for me. “Every problem has a solution,” he’d say, “it’s all about perspective.” But when you’re caught in the middle of a storm, perspective feels like a luxury. It was like standing in the eye of a typhoon with your life swirling around at an uncontrollable speed and every solution feeling just out of reach. Slowly, I learned to anchor myself to my nephrologist’s words, and it truly helped me weather the storm.

Siddharth P. Singh, my boyfriend at the time and now my husband, was also a constant pillar of support throughout my journey, right from the initial diagnosis to the pre-transplant preparations, the transplant itself, and now the post-transplant recovery.

Almost 10 years since the CKD detection, my weight started dropping dangerously as my creatinine levels surged. I knew my kidneys were nearing complete failure. Suffering had become my second nature, having experienced most of it during the course of this disease. My mind had convinced itself that even a solution like Kidney Transplant wouldn’t bring peace. This victim mindset made it difficult to believe in better possibilities. Thankfully, my family and my doctors refused to give up. They urged me to consider a preemptive kidney transplant — a decision I wrestled with for months.

The next hurdle was finding a donor. My mother, Mrs. Aruna Tewary, with all the grace and selflessness in the world, volunteered without hesitation. Her decision was a mix of relief and guilt for me. But when tests confirmed she was a match, it felt like a sign from above. The transplant team at Gleneagles Hospital (located in Lower Parel, Mumbai), along with my nephrologists, worked tirelessly to ensure everything was seamless. Their confidence was infectious, and looking at them we were assured that we were in the safest hands.

Two days before the surgery, my mother and I were admitted. It was time to trust the process and, most importantly, to be patient. Now here’s the funny part: patience does not come naturally to patients (I mean, it’s right there in the name!). So, while we did feel the jitters, the frequent visits, reassuring demeanor, and undeniable sense of humor from the team of nephrologists put us immensely at ease. The surgery went smoothly, thanks to the exceptional team of surgeons headed by Dr. Pradeep Rao at the Hospital. Their care, precision, and empathy made all the difference, and my family and I will always remain grateful.

My mother was discharged in just three days, while I stayed under observation a little longer to ensure I could walk out of the ICU on my own two legs with a smile on my face — and walk I did! In fact, the team of surgeons made sure I was up and walking the very next day after the surgery.

As I’ve already mentioned, when God’s grace is upon you, blessings come in the form of people, and in my case, every member of my family and in-laws stood by me in ways I never thought possible, giving me another father, brother, and sister along the way.

Once I was discharged, however, I quickly realized that being away from the hospital and their constant care brought its own set of mental battles. Physically, I felt like a new person almost instantly. But mentally, I knew I had to train myself for this new normal way of life. With fewer people around and too much time to think, my mind became my worst enemy. Every little symptom and highs & lows in the lab reports felt catastrophic, and it took all my willpower not to consult Dr. Google. Thankfully, I had Dr. Bharat Shah to lean on. Every question, no matter how small or silly, was met with answers that calmed my overthinking brain.

Now, six months later, I can confidently say that opting for a kidney transplant was the best decision I’ve ever made. My hemoglobin levels are up, my energy is back, and life feels almost new again — like I’ve time-traveled to the vigor and vitality of my early twenties. As for my mother, she is off traveling overseas for New Year’s and living her best life with a discipline that honestly puts me to shame! She’s living proof that being a kidney donor doesn’t mean sacrificing quality of life — it means giving someone else a chance to find theirs.

I know my journey might not resonate with everyone, but there’s one universal truth I’ve seen in every waiting room and every consultation: hope is a stubborn thing. Even in the hardest moments, it finds a way to stick around. If you can grab onto that tiny twig of hope and take just one step forward, you’ll find people, doctors, and moments of grace to help you take the next 99.

To anyone reading this and battling CKD or any similar condition, I hope my story reminds you to hold on. Trust that the storm will pass, and when it does, there’s a brighter, healthier life waiting for you. I’m living proof of it and so are so many others.

By: Mrs. Garima (Transplant Recipient)