World Kidney Health Day – Why Getting Checked Matters

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On the face of it, you’d think Carey, our Managing Director, was a pretty normal, healthy guy. In fact, he’d probably say he was fitter and more active than plenty of people his age. But in 2017 he discovered he had kidney disease.

There were no obvious warning signs. Carey had been feeling a bit tired and run down for a while, but he put it down to the long hours involved in building a business and raising young kids. Like most parents, being tired just seemed part of the deal.

His wife Gemma encouraged him to get a check-up. Within days the results came back showing his kidney function (eGFR) had dropped to 21%. Carey was in Stage 4 kidney failure.

As you can imagine, it came as a massive shock.

Kidney disease often develops silently, with very few symptoms in the early stages. That’s why awareness and early detection are so important. A simple health check can make all the difference in identifying problems before they become life-threatening.

By 2020 Carey’s kidney function had declined further and he needed to begin peritoneal dialysis. This type of dialysis uses a fluid called dialysate to remove waste and excess fluid from the body. The fluid is placed into the abdominal cavity, where it absorbs waste products before being drained out. Each exchange takes around 30–40 minutes and is typically done several times a day.

Rather than letting dialysis define what he could or couldn’t do, Carey looked for ways to keep living as normally as possible. Being stuck in one place during treatment was frustrating, so he designed a mobile stand that allowed him to move around while connected to dialysis. The idea gave him the freedom to stay active around home and work while undergoing treatment.

Kidney disease currently has no cure, and for many people a transplant becomes the best long-term option. Carey spent time on the transplant waiting list while friends and family went through testing to see if they could become living donors.

During that time he also made lifestyle changes to support his health. That meant fewer beers with the boys, healthier food choices, and switching to an e-bike so he could still get out on the hills without exhausting himself. Staying active, he says, helped not just physically but mentally as well.

Then in 2021 came life-changing news. Carey received a kidney transplant thanks to the generous gift of a kidney from his mate, Piete Vreede.

While recovery requires ongoing medication and monitoring, the difference has been enormous. The freedom from dialysis and the renewed energy that comes with a functioning kidney has had a huge impact on daily life.

Carey continues to share his story to raise awareness of kidney disease and the importance of early detection.

Read more about Carey’s journey

World Kidney Day – Get Your Kidneys Checked

World Kidney Day on 12 March is a reminder that kidney disease can affect anyone — often without warning.

The good news is that simple tests can identify kidney disease early.

If you haven’t had your kidneys checked recently:

Early detection could make all the difference.