What Worked for Me: Dealing with dialysis

What Worked for Me: Dealing with dialysis
LaMona Curry, 44, Indianapolis, waitress, college student

Sep 4, 2011 |
Written by
LaMona Curry

Curry's advice to people facing kidney disease

» Don't give up. I know God has a plan for me. It's your choice to keep going or not.

» Do what your doctor tells you. Listen to everything your doctor says.

» Put positive people in your life. Keep working if you can. Meet and talk to people. It's the best medicine.

I was told I had end-stage renal disease three days after I had an unrelated surgery in 2001. I either had to be on dialysis or get a new kidney. I was only 32.

Within a few months, I went on dialysis at the Danville Dialysis Center -- three days a week for four hours a day. For about a year and a half, I could work only one day a week and was in and out of the hospital every week.

For the past two years, I've been going to Indiana Wesleyan University to earn an associate degree in criminal justice. I attend school on Tuesday and work as a waitress at Ponderosa on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Eventually, I want to work with foster children. My dream is to build a home for children and have counselors and teachers there.

In 2009, I was able to get on the kidney transplant waiting list. My doctor wouldn't put me on the list until I stopped smoking. I tried a lot of methods, but the electronic cigarette has been the only thing that has worked.

Every year, I've gone through the transplant work-up, doing all the tests to see if I'm a viable candidate. I ask doctors what the tests say. I want to know if I need to do something differently.

Since I've been on dialysis, I have changed my diet. I eat a lot healthier now. I eat three balanced meals and a snack. For exercise, I walk around the neighborhood. Sometimes my legs hurt so badly that I can't. I have special shoes that help. On dialysis days, I have no energy. I usually don't work on those days.

I used to love to go swimming, but I can't do that now because I can't get the access port in my chest wet. My grandson asks me to swim with him. That's the thing I miss the most.

A kidney transplant costs about $250,000, and I need to raise $50,000 before I can get the transplant. Insurance won't pay for the anti-rejection medications. The cost can range from $2,000 to $5,000 per month.

I'm planning fundraisers now, including a car wash, a kids' carnival and a benefit concert. Four bands and soloists are performing from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds in Danville.

I've learned I have to take care of myself. I didn't do that before. I took care of everybody else first. I also learned there are a lot of caring people in this world.

As told to Star reporter Barb Berggoetz at barb.berggoetz@indystar.com.

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