Greetings of Easter festive season.
I am Zerald Rodrigues, age 35 years. I am suffering from end-stage renal disease and on haemo dialysis treatment three times a week since February 2012. Life has changed so much since then. The perception towards life has taken a whole new dimension. Lifestyle, behaviour and attitude all changed. Life has taught me too many lessons in these years. Moreover, I have learnt to be self-dependant and confident, and the way I look at things in life. When I was told that both my Kidneys have almost stopped working and I need to start dialysis as soon as possible, I had no idea what so ever, what I am passing through and I was totally unaware about my disease. But, I had to accept the bitter reality that is my kidneys were no longer able to work well, and I need dialysis to keep myself alive.
I am Zerald Rodrigues, age 35 years. I am suffering from end-stage renal disease and on haemo dialysis treatment three times a week since February 2012. Life has changed so much since then. The perception towards life has taken a whole new dimension. Lifestyle, behaviour and attitude all changed. Life has taught me too many lessons in these years. Moreover, I have learnt to be self-dependant and confident, and the way I look at things in life. When I was told that both my Kidneys have almost stopped working and I need to start dialysis as soon as possible, I had no idea what so ever, what I am passing through and I was totally unaware about my disease. But, I had to accept the bitter reality that is my kidneys were no longer able to work well, and I need dialysis to keep myself alive.
As the days passed by I started to realize and accept the reality. Then, I made a strong decision to myself to fight this disease at any cost, I had very less support from my family, when I started my dialysis my mother was bedridden due to chronic illness. When she came to know about my disease and realized about Kidney disease she was too much disturbed and her condition started to get worse day by day, and too much of suffering one fine day she left for her heavenly abode. After mother's death, I was left alone, There was no one take proper care of me, I was totally blank, and didn't know what to do, the way ahead seemed dark. Then, I started to look for help and guidance how to move forward, and by God's grace and with the little knowledge of social media I had, I came into contact with many Kidney patient support groups. This helped me to change my perspective about the disease, I actively involved in few organizations to raise awareness among public and kidney patients.
The Kidney warriors (TKW)
(India's first and largest online kidney patient support group)
Kidney patient support foundation (KPSF)
Chennai, Tamilnadu
and
Kidney foundation of Guruvayur (KFG)
Thrissur, Kerala.
Today, after six years I am a confident, positive and in a stable state of mind to face any hardships in life. As you may be well aware that dialysis is a costly treatment, and indeed a huge burden for a patient and his family. Providing free dialysis to all also is not a practical solution for the government or any other organisation. Also, in my locality there are no such facilities offering free dialysis, I don't have any job or income source to bear the cost of this expensive treatment. I am surviving with the generous contributions of some relatives, friends and well-wishers. Recently, Snehalaya charitable trust launched a unit of manufacturing various types of cleaning products. I would like to start a small shop of selling products manufactured by them. I request you to help me to set up a retail outlet(Selling products manufactured at Snehalaya psycho- social rehabilitation centre)either in my hometown or in Kasaragod town. I request you to help me with required financial support to start this small business. Which will help me to be self-dependant and manage my expensive dialysis treatment. I am sure it will boost my self-esteem and no need to beg before anyone.
As a responsible human being and a God-fearing Christian, It is my duty to give back to the society. I assure to give 25% of the profit to the charity activities of KSHEMA, a kidney patient support group in Mangalore. Which is committed to raising awareness about Kidney disease and organ donation, also helping out the less privileged kidney patients. I have come across many patients who are misguided with lots of myths about the disease and end up their life in misery. Also, lack of awareness leads to distress or totally leaves them blindfolded. They have no idea what's so ever about the future.
As we all know kidney disease is not curable and it requires lifelong treatment either dialysis or transplant (After transplant recipients need to take immunosuppressive drugs for life time, which is quite expensive. Even, those who can't get a second chance at life, or can't afford it, though have a donor it's very difficult to manage the treatment expenses. Dialysis is a costly affair to deal with. Another important subject I would like to highlight here is about giving a positive mindset and how we can collectively make an effort in building a kidney community which helps to make this world a better place to live with all our limitation. I personally feel that instead of giving them free facilities, which is not practically possible in long-term aspects, I personally feel that there is a need to empower and give them an opportunity to earn some income through providing self-employment or home based jobs. I would be keen to know your response at the earliest. I hope you will not disappoint me rather give an opportunity to be a part this social enterprise venture
Thanking you,
With regards
Zerald Rodrigues
Door#72/10, Ukkinadka House &Post
Kasaragod District, Kerala State 671 552
Mobile: 00 91 8971568063
https://www.payunow.com/mykidneytransplant
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