At the age of just 36, Edward Campher suffered a stroke and two years later received a shock diagnosis of end-stage kidney failure. A quarter of a century later, he shares his life-affirming personal journey ahead of World Kidney Day.
“The first time a doctor tells you that you are in end-stage renal failure, it is a lot to process, and it feels like you are coming to terms with the end of your life. Before this, I was an active primary school teacher in Gauteng, coaching rugby, cricket, athletics and table tennis – and my health wouldn’t allow that life anymore. At first, I just couldn’t accept it,” Mr Campher, now 62, recalls.
Now, after some 25 years on dialysis he says he is living proof of the possibilities that life holds for people who are faced with kidney failure, as he still enjoys attending sports matches with his son, tending to his garden and spending time with his friends and beloved wife.
| Pic: Edward Campher, 62, has been living with end stage renal failure for 25 years. He attends regular dialysis sessions at National Renal Care (NRC) George three times each week. |
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A silent threat
“Very often, kidney disease is silent with no noticeable symptoms until kidney failure is advanced, and it can strike at any age,” adds Tilly Govender, clinical executive of National Renal Care (NRC).
“According to information of the South African Renal Registry in 2021, the leading cause of chronic kidney disease was hypertension, with 38% of patients reporting high blood pressure. Other risk factors include a family history of kidney disease, diabetes, trauma, infections, and long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs] pain relievers, among others.
“For up to 30% of South Africans diagnosed with kidney disease, there are no known risk factors, which underscores the importance of discussing regular kidney health screenings with your General Practitioner or primary healthcare clinic,” she says.
“With early detection, it’s possible to significantly slow deteriorating kidney function and delay the need for dialysis. Patient engagement and empowerment are truly crucial aspects of managing kidney disease effectively, and NRC units partner with renal patients and their caregivers on their treatment journey, focusing on what matters most to them,” Govender says.
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A new perspective
Mr Campher had been living with type 2 diabetes before his stroke, which paralysed his left arm and leg, before being diagnosed with kidney failure. Yet the dietary changes he made supported by NRC improved his blood sugar control to such an extent that from March 2000 onwards he no longer required treatment for diabetes.
“My wife of 37 years, my family, friends and fellow dialysis ‘colleagues’ stood by my side, and in those early days leaders from our church came to my house to pray with me; their support gave me the inspiration to accept my new life with end-stage kidney failure.
“When I first started dialysis, I met Tannie Lappies, and she shared her wisdom and experience of years of dialysis that helped me come to terms with my condition. She passed away just three weeks later but I will always remember her words ‘Trust in God, and you will live forever’, which made me determined to make the best of my new life – and here I am, 25 years later.”
A lifeline in renal care
For all these years, Mr Campher has been having dialysis three times every week first at National Renal Care (NRC) Garden City in Johannesburg, before relocating to the Western Cape and transferring to NRC George for his treatment.
“Our kidneys perform many complex and vital functions that keep the rest of the body in balance, including filtering our blood to remove waste and excess fluid from your body, helping to make red blood cells, balancing important vitamins and minerals, maintaining blood pressure and keeping our bones healthy. When a person has end-stage kidney failure, they need dialysis therapy to artificially replace the life sustaining functions of the kidneys,” Govender explains.
With a network of 76 dedicated dialysis units across South Africa, NRC units provide dialysis treatment, either at home or in healthcare facilities, to people living with chronic kidney disease and kidney failure under the supervision of nephrologists.
“We strive to provide patients and their families with important information about managing chronic kidney disease every step of the way. NRC’s unique Healthy Start programme offers patients with early-stage kidney disease education to help slow the progression to prevent complete kidney failure, while also supporting those with end-stage kidney failure who need dialysis with a range of options to suit their needs,” she explains.
“I am living a normal life, and I am the same person I was before. I told my friends, ‘You don’t have to treat me any differently’. I am still active in my church and my community of dialysis colleagues, and we support each other,” Mr Campher concludes.
Ends.
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Issued by: MNA on behalf of National Renal Care (NRC)
For media enquiries contact: Martina Nicholson, Meggan Saville, Estene Lotriet-Vorster, Clementine Forsthofer or Natasha Burger
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