A family affected by kidney disease
Craig, 39, first found out he had kidney disease in his early twenties, after he was prompted to get tested when his father was diagnosed with the same condition.
Craig says: “My kidney disease is inherited genetically. My dad began losing clumps of hair and subsequently found out that he had kidney disease in 2001, while he was in his early fifties. Both my sister and I were tested and found to have the same condition soon after. Sadly, my mum was also diagnosed with kidney disease, and so the whole family has been affected.
“My dad’s and sister’s kidneys both deteriorated more quickly than mine, and both have received transplants. They’re doing well now and are back to living their lives with more normality again.
“For a long time, I had no symptoms, and so I just had annual check-ups to monitor my kidney function without much disruption to my life. However, in 2016, I started to decline and began taking medication to slow the progression. By 2020, my kidney function had dropped to 6%, causing tiredness and severe cramps. Then, in 2022, it became necessary for me to receive dialysis.”