This is Maria, originally from the Philippines.

Her father died of polycystic kidney disease (PKD) at the age of 50. PKD is an inherited disorder and Maria was diagnosed with it at the age of 33.

Maria now lives in Canada with her husband of 8 years. Apart from her husband and his family, and a few of her own relatives, she doesn’t have the extensive support system that she had in the Philippines. She feels that receiving a kidney will require a complete act of kindness by a stranger.

Now 60, she’s been waiting for a kidney since 2018. She’s blood type A. While waiting, she struggles with conflicting thoughts on a daily basis. The first thoughts, after a night of intense pain on peritoneal dialysis, are “This cannot be my life - the pain, shortness of breath, complete lack of energy” and the second “Shut up! You have so many things to be thankful for – you waited so many years to marry and found your loving, supportive husband. You live in Canada. You have amazing medical care. And you’ve made it 10 years past the age your father did.”