By Angele LaFontaine, MSW, LGSW

Charles Price, a patient at Fresenius Medical Care Birmingham Central in Alabama, has been on dialysis for 32 years—well over half of his life. Growing up in Birmingham, Price led a normal life. He was the quarterback of his high school football team and played a few years for Miles College in Fairfield, Ala. But at 19, his life changed dramatically. Price felt ill during a game and was taken to the hospital. Unbeknownst to him and his family, Price had been born with only one kidney, and now that kidney had completely failed due to complications from high blood pressure – the second leading cause of kidney disease, behind diabetes.

Despite this setback, Price’s positive attitude and support from his family and friends have allowed him to live a satisfying and fruitful life.

“It was a big blow to me,” Price says of the diagnosis. “I’m the only one in my family that has had kidney failure, and I was very athletic and healthy growing up. But it didn’t take me long to adjust to the changes I had to make. You do what you have to do.”

“What helped me most was staying active. I worked as a pharmacy technician and didn’t just sit around. I kept a positive attitude and didn’t let worrying about my condition overwhelm my life.”

In 1978, Price underwent a kidney transplant, but it failed after only a few weeks. “That’s when I realized dialysis was just going to be a part of my life. But you have to make the best of the situation you’re in. If you think negatively, things are going to be negative. I don’t feel sorry for myself. Life is the same for everybody – we all have our ups and downs.”

Dialysis has only been widely available as a treatment for chronic kidney failure since the mid-1970s, and Price’s story shows it can be a viable long-term treatment option for people with the condition. He often shares his story with patients that are new to dialysis.

“I like giving the other patients advice and encouragement. When I tell them how many years I’ve been on dialysis, they can’t believe it. I tell them, ‘If you do what you are supposed to do, you can stay really healthy. But if you don’t, it will catch up with you.’”

Price knows his doctors and other members of his health care team are looking out for him. “I’ve always had good kidney doctors and nurses over the years. The doctors like me because they know I’ll do what they tell me to do.”

“Charles is an inspiration for all our dialysis patients. By his example of long-term success, he helps other patients remain motivated and on track,” said Jeff Glaze, MD, Medical Director of Fresenius Medical Care Birmingham Central. “He’s a pleasure to be around, and the encouragement he offers to his fellow patients is invaluable.”

Price also credits his friends and family for his long-term success on dialysis. “I have classmates who know I’ve been ill for a long time. We graduated in 1976, and they still call to check up on me. They say I’ll outlive them all.”

“I have raised four kids – two boys and two girls – and I have a little grandbaby. She’s a handful. Being around children all my life has helped me keep a positive outlook.”

Though a total hip and knee replacement have slowed Price down a bit in recent years, he’s still making plans for the future. “I don’t know anybody in Birmingham who’s been on dialysis as long as I have, and that’s a record I’d like to hang on to for a while.”

Angele LaFontaine, MSW, LGSW, is a social worker with Fresenius Medical Care in Birmingham, Ala. As part of the ongoing Quarter Century Patient Recognition Program, Fresenius Medical Care North America and AAKP honor patients like Price who have been on dialysis for 25 years or more. Many quarter-century patients credit the success of their treatment to adhering to a steady dialysis program, working closely with their health care team and maintaining an active lifestyle.

All honorees receive an award certificate, a medal and a one-year membership to AAKP. Be sure to read the March 2009 issue of aakpRENALIFE for a list of all the Quarter Century honorees. 

This article originally appeared in the January 2009 issue of aakpRENALIFE.

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