After retiring six years ago, Genevieve Curran thought life could not get any better. Not only was she able to spend more time with her husband, Bob, who retired at the same time, but she moved from Connecticut to sunny South Florida. There, Genevieve and Bob settled in a beautiful golf community and enjoyed one another’s company.

Within three years of her retirement, Genevieve, who was on anemia medication, noticed her energy slowly slipping away and consulted her doctor. After a series of tests, she was told she had an abnormal creatinine level, which suggested reduced kidney function. Her doctor referred her to a nephrologist. Genevieve was frightened by the prognosis… she had kidney disease.

“I was scared. There is always a fear of the unknown. It took some time, but once you swallow it and digest it all, you realize things are not so bad. I decided I could not just sit back and do nothing. The more knowledge you gain, the less fear you have. If you want to be a healthy patient, you need to be an informed patient,” said Genevieve.

She was now ready to learn about chronic kidney disease (CKD). Prior to her diagnosis, Genevieve had no knowledge of the ins and outs of kidney disease. She knew she would eventually have to look into treatment options, such as dialysis or transplantation. Genevieve researched her options and took care of herself in the process. In fact, the dialysis center in her area, which administers her anemia medication, was very helpful with providing educational materials and answering her questions.

Genevieve loves the community she lives in. It is a retirement community and everyone is more than 55 years of age. There is an endless supply of things for her to participate in and she never finds herself getting bored. Though CKD has made Genevieve tired, it has not slowed her down.

“I have to take at least one nap each day, but I fit in everything I possibly can while I am awake. At least once a month, our country club hosts a dinner dance or other social event. This gives Bob and I a chance to put on our dancing shoes and catch up with our neighbors. I also have a weekly card game with my friends,” said Genevieve.

However, Genevieve’s favorite thing to do is golf, and she makes a point to play at least twice a week. Whether it is with her girlfriends, other couples, alone or with her husband, golf is a fun and important part of Genevieve’s life. Luckily, she lives right on the sixth hole of her community’s golf course.

“I love golfing. In fact, if I’m not able to play all 18 holes, I’ll just play a few and not even keep score. It is a really fun way for me to keep active and get outdoors. I always feel better about myself once I’m finished,” said Genevieve.

Genevieve and her husband, who have been married 18 years, also try to fit in vacations as often as possible. Recent trips included a Caribbean cruise and a trip to Cancun, Mexico. In addition, Genevieve and Bob enjoy walking together on the beach or doing anything that allows them to spend more time together. They also spend their summers in Vermont.

“As my disease progressed, little by little, I got more optimistic. Now that I am in the later stages of my disease, I have accepted it and I live a healthy, productive lifestyle,” said Genevieve.

Within the coming months, Genevieve anticipates she will begin dialysis. She admits that she is actually looking forward to it, in hopes that it will prevent her from being so tired throughout the day. She is hoping to do home dialysis. In addition to allowing her to spend more time with her husband, she can receive dialysis treatments in the comfort of her home. In fact, though she will not begin dialysis for several months, she has begun making room in her closets for storing dialysis equipment and supplies.

“One of my favorite things to do is to sit on my back porch, overlooking the golf course, and curl up with a good book. Home dialysis will allow me to do this. I am also looking into eventually receiving a transplant,” said Genevieve.

Genevieve tries to stay optimistic and keeps a positive outlook on life. She admits that, though CKD has altered her lifestyle somewhat, she is still the same active person she has always been. In addition, she feels that her positive attitude will not only ease the transition to dialysis, but also benefit her health outcome.

This article originally appeared in the March/April 2005 issue of Kidney Beginnings: The Magazine, Vol. 4, No. 1.

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