At first glance, Amy’s bright smile and determined spirit don’t reveal the extraordinary journey she has traveled to get here.
Amy is a proud mother of two boys, a dialysis patient, a college student, a recovery advocate, and a woman rebuilding her life one step at a time, quite literally.
Years ago, after receiving a kidney transplant, Amy experienced a series of personal struggles that eventually led to addiction, declining health, and the heartbreaking loss of her transplanted kidney. Ashamed and overwhelmed, she stopped attending medical appointments and drifted further from the support she needed.
“I had given up on myself,” Amy shared honestly.
Her health deteriorated rapidly. Eventually, severe infection and sepsis led to the amputation of both of her legs above the knee. Doctors told her she might not survive.
But Amy did survive.
What followed was not an overnight transformation, but a journey of recovery. Supported by her family, healthcare providers, her dialysis team at Puget Sound Kidney Centers, and her own fierce determination, Amy committed herself to rebuilding her life.
She returned to dialysis consistently. She learned how to navigate life with prosthetic legs. She taught herself to walk again in just six months, far sooner than expected. She learned to drive independently and began setting goals for her future.
Today, Amy is thriving in ways she once had not thought possible.
She is pursuing college courses in addiction studies and human services, making the honor roll along the way. She has completed recovery coach training and now leads a women’s support group for individuals navigating recovery, homelessness, domestic violence, and other life challenges.
“I want people to know recovery is possible,” Amy said. “You can lose everything and still rebuild your life.”
Throughout her journey, Amy says dialysis care and the encouragement of those around her helped restore not only her health, but her confidence and sense of purpose.
Her story is a powerful reminder that healing is about more than medical treatment. It is about compassion, dignity, support, and believing in people even when they struggle to believe in themselves.
Today, Amy continues working toward another kidney transplant while raising her sons and helping others find hope in their own journeys.
And perhaps most importantly, she no longer defines herself by what she lost but by everything she fought to regain.
“We went in pretty scared,” Jerry recalls. “But from the very beginning, we had the absolute best care. They made me feel comfortable and treated me with such kindness all the way through.” Jerry and CeCe give high praise to all of the PSKC staff they have worked with, from Port Townsend clinic’s medical director Dr. Gill, to their “beautiful angel Joel, and the wonderful Nurse Vickie with her beautiful smile that greets us every time.”
Hoping to qualify for a transplant, Walt is working hard to lose weight. As many of you know, this can be especially challenging when you’re following the renal diet. To support this effort, he has reached out to many popular weight loss programs but has been turned down once he tells them he is a dialysis patient. So, for now, it’s his treadmill and his self-determination that keep him going. Walt believes his commitment to dialysis comes from his upbringing, being raised by his grandparents who survived the great depression. He says he learned a strong work ethic from them which was, “Do it, or don’t do it; pick ONE!” This, and other life lessons he learned as a marine, continue to drive Walt today as he navigates dialysis and the pursuit of a kidney transplant.
On any given day, you might see Bob Crabtree teaching a class on how to make low-sodium sourdough bread as part of our CKD education program, leading an online support group for kidney patients, or presiding over a PSKC Foundation Board meeting to discuss ways to raise funds for PSKC and our patients. Recently retired from a 38- year career as a mechanic, Bob works tirelessly for people with kidney disease.
Kidney failure did not come as a surprise for Richard Beach; almost 25 years ago, he was told that his kidneys had begun deteriorating and that one day, he might need treatment. He closely monitored his creatinine levels and was able to put that off for many years.