Throughout her life, Sharon Harrison has been no stranger to dealing with medical issues. In 1977, she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease and told she had a 20 percent chance of survival. She had heart attacks in 1993 and 1994, requiring triple bypass surgery. To top it all off, in 2002, she learned she has kidney disease.

For years, Sharon thought the only medical problem she needed to worry about was her heart, which is still her main concern. However, after learning about her kidney disease, she realized her heart was not the only problem. In fact, heart disease was a contributing factor to her kidney disease. Since this realization, Sharon has worked to become an informed and educated patient.

“I have always been a fighter. I knew it was important to do what the doctor said and stay calm. I have a wonderful husband and children, and these are people I want to live my life for. They help me move on from dwelling on my sickness,” said Sharon.

Despite her health concerns, Sharon considers herself fortunate. Her kidney function is currently around 50 percent and, unlike many kidney patients, she is not diabetic. “I try not to think of it by stages or percentages. I just maintain a healthy lifestyle and do what is best for me. I try to go by the way I feel, because if I am not taking care of myself, my body lets me know,” said Sharon.

Sharon’s doctors anticipate she will require dialysis or a transplant within five years. She is considering all her options and is leaning toward home dialysis. “I am also considering having a transplant, but I’m afraid to accept an organ from my children. I just have this fear they will have kidney problems too, and I don’t want them to give me a kidney that may be important to them later,” said Sharon.

Sharon, a retired nurse, has a passion for helping people. From time to time, she is asked to pick up nursing shifts at a nearby doctor’s office, which is something she greatly enjoys. “Sometimes I work with dialysis patients and they teach me a lot about day-to-day issues they face,” said Sharon.

When she was a full-time nurse, taking care of patients on a regular basis left Sharon little time to take care of herself. “I did not follow a healthy diet and I never had fluids while I was working. I just didn’t know any better or was too busy to care.” Sharon continued, “It makes me angry that some of my problems were self-inflicted. That’s why it is important for healthy people to be educated too and know the risks of their actions.”

Sharon now avidly follows her diet. She avoids salt, forcing her husband to undertake a new dietary lifestyle as well. “Now he has to eat more vegetables and less red meats and starches; but I am glad, because it is keeping him healthy too,” said Sharon.

In her spare time, Sharon likes to paint china. In fact, she was recently elected as president of her china painting club. In addition, she and her daughter will soon begin teaching baton-twirling lessons to young girls. Sharon is also considering coaching her grandson’s soccer team next year, “I love the outdoors and I love people, so I’m just not the type of person who can stay in the house all day.” She also enjoys horseback riding. In fact, she lives on a large piece of land and owns four horses. Sharon and her husband like to travel. In summer 2004, she vacationed in Florida for three weeks to visit family and attend her class reunion. She has also taken trips to Missouri, Arkansas and Texas. “It’s only a few hours of driving to get to Branson [Missouri], so it is a fun weekend vacation for us,” said Sharon.

Sharon attributes her ability to delay the progression of kidney failure to having a good attitude and a loving support system. She seeks comfort in her family and her faith. “My family can provide me with anything I would ever need. They have been such a source of inspiration for me,” said Sharon. When times get tough, she speaks to her minister about her fears and concerns, which helps her cope and motivates her to learn more about kidney disease.

“If I could give anyone in my situation advice, it would be that you have to be positive. You have to be positive about all of this. Because if you don’t, you are going to lose,” said Sharon.

Sharon lives is Bristow, Okla., with her husband Jim. She enjoys spending time with her son and daughter, as well as her four grandsons.

This article originally appeared in the June/July issue of Kidney Beginnings: The Magazine, Vol. 4, No. 2.

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