Your Biggest Supporter

Support plays a key part into your emotions and mental health when dealing with CKD. My mother is a new CKD patient but she also has lupus and it messes with her heart. Being a big support or helper to someone when you have already experienced it is a big help. Why? Because they can tell you their experience and maybe you can relate to, learn from, or bond due to you have the same condition.

Even though everyone is telling her to stop working, it's hard to understand someone's financial situation. I will be open and speak about my experience as well.

Working while living with CKD

When it comes to being sick and fighting for financial help, the government really does not help. Recently, my benefits ended and that income was not even enough to cover a place to live, let alone provide for me and my two kids. Every time I got approved for housing, it would be in poor living conditions or in areas I would not want my children. I had to let it go and get off my behind and get on my feet because my children needed more from me.

Once I started working, it was like a domino affect. Medicaid, Medicare, food stamps, and more benefits were just gone. I grieved because I was comfortable for so long with it. I questioned what would happen if I got sick again? How will I pay for my things? I had to get health insurance through work. I never realized how much the government takes out of your check as well. It's pretty expensive. My husband was holding up most of the bills for years and when I came back, it was so new for me.

Who are your biggest supporters?

I ended up finding a remote job but I am slowly realizing that it is a hassle itself. Why? You can not get FMLA in the first year and you have to apply for another leave and that takes forever to be processed. Then sometimes they don't accommodate. I have been denied for chemotherapy infusions. I had to switch it to my days off. Which can be overbearing because I schedule my children's appointments on those days. Mind you on these days, I am driving two hours away from home just to get this. So you sit there and think, who are your biggest supporters and will they help you when you are down? The system? No. Your job? No. Family? Yes, but you have to remember, they have their own life and their own bills.

I had to do a 180 and say to myself, I got this! Growing up, we never saw our mother get sick. When she was gone, I never knew she was in the hospital most times. I just thought she was away doing something but not sick. There was times she did it alone and never asked for help. I salute my mother for that. She always made a way and that is why I think it would be so hard for her being a new CKD patient to stop working and heal her mind, body, and soul. She has been through a lot this past year that will bring you through a flare up. She keeps pushing.

Support who supports you

My modern day motto is support who support you. You be there for who will be there for you! Never give up on your hopes and dreams and always aim for the stars. Sometimes of someone will not do it for you or help you, learn different ways to do it or get it cause the world does not stop for anyone. That hurts, but I had to learn that that hard way. Keep your self private and only tell what you want someone to know. Privacy helped me with stress triggers and helped me focus more on myself and my health.