CONQUERING CHALLENGES AND LEADING SA IN CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE MANAGEMENT2015

CONQUERING CHALLENGES ANDLEADING SOUTH AFRICA INCHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE

MANAGEMENT

PRESENTED BY MAXINE ANNE SMITH

CELL NUMBER: 0834471532

E-MAIL ADDRESS: [email protected]

WEB-SITE: Been updated at present.

mailto:[email protected]

Conquering Challenges and LeadingSouth Africa in Chronic Kidney Disease Management

WHO AM I:

• Maxine Anne Smith.• Known as Max, Maxi-Mouse …• Entrepreneur/Fund-Raiser & Philanthropist• Ordinary individual

– trying to make a difference in people’s lives and give back.– sharing my attitude towards life.– and lessons I have learnt in my life so far.– and hoping that the things I wish to share, will give you inspiration to live, laugh and love, each day.


BACKGROUND:

• Living life without a care in the world, enjoying and doing everything I wanted to do.

• I was, well thought, I was successful in my Business Career, felt in control (those who know me well, like to be control of myself), felt indispensable,

• So what could ever go wrong or happen to me.• Diagnosed with Kidney Failure – End February 2006.• Told I would have to dialysis 3 times a week for 4 hours at

Sunninghill NRC Unit.• My world had just been turned upside down, what had just

happened to me?• Remember clearly being overwhelmed with various

emotions and how was I going to cope, as those that know me well, know me as an individual that lives life to the full.


• Realised life is short and knew I needed to start focusing on making my life a happy and fulfilling one.

• And so the healing process started with the professional help from my Kidney Doctor – Diane Campbell, Nurses and Staff at Sunninghill National Renal Care, Family, Friends, National Renal Care, South Africa, My Biking Friends at Traditional Triumph Connection in Edenvale and The Racing Industry/World.

• Had to work through the emotions to become a stronger person, had to realize it was not about me and my healthy lifestyle before my kidney failure diagnosis.

• I am sure that many “patients” here today will identify with this, even though we experience this in individual and different ways.

• Found myself reaching out for everything positive in life that would encourage me rather than discouragement.

• I realised to live well with Kidney Disease, I would have to live it with Passion, Enthusiasm and do it Triumphantly (I Ride and Race a Triumph Street Triple R 675 CC Motor-Bike).

• So Max got to work …


• Educated myself on all the medical terms relating to Kidney Disease, did research on the Internet, looked after my health, asked questions regarding the Dialysis machine and how it affects your body, got to know the values of my monthly blood tests, made a decision I was going to manage this Disease, and not it control me, this is really important and drew up a “Bucket List”.

• Here are some of the things that I have achieved or in the process of completing:

• Studying towards degree in Nutrition & Exercise Science, developed my own Web-Site as a vehicle to help with Kidney Disease and educate, involved in various projects, run a successful business, avid Fund-Raiser, extensive travelling and have been racing this year in the Regionals Ladies 600CC Class this year, being placed in the Top 10 for 2010 Championships, nothing is impossible, if you are willing to conquer challenges, and so this leads me to the subject of the Workshop today and my presentation from a Dialysis Patient Perspective.

Max Racing at Zwartkops Race Track, Pretoria in theLadies Regionals 600CC Class


• CONQUERING CHALLENGES LIVING WITH KIDNEY DISEASE:

• I had to learn a few lessons about myself quickly, when diagnosed with Kidney Failure – let me tell you …

• LESSON NUMBER 1:• It is about the life of a person living well with Kidney Disease and making a

difference in peoples lives, meet a need when you can.• Challenged myself to look at my situation, although living with a Life

Threatening Disease, I could control and manage it, even though on dialysis to be a normal, healthy, functional and happy person.

• When I looked around me, there are people in this world that are off in a far worse situation than me – Be Grateful and Count your Blessings.

• Life is a constant test, but builds character, if you are prepared to accept the challenges, “look at glass half full and NOT half empty.

• Got out and decided to help others living with Kidney Disease and those less fortunate than me.

• When you focus on others, you place less focus on yourself.• Decided to live my life with passion, enthusiasm and do it 100%. Most

people only get one opportunity at life, I was blessed.


• LESSON NUMBER 2:• You either quit and give up, or live life to its fullest.• Easier said, than actioned, but nothing is impossible if you have a

dream and goals.• Believe in yourself and surround yourself with people that are

positive, will uplift and support you in all that you do, but you have to believe in yourself first.

• LESSON NUMBER 3:• Gratitude.• Be grateful for the special people in your life, tell them each day

that you love them, show by your actions, no matter how small the gesture is.

• Be grateful for special privileges in life.• One of my special privileges is that I have excellent Medical

Healthcare and support base. This is priceless!


• LESSON NUMBER 4:• The Road Goes On …• Remember this, no matter what happens to you, life carries on, the sun

comes up every day and the sun goes down every day.• I learnt this valuable lesson, when I crashed my Race Bike practising at

Zwartkops. Broken ankle, bruising, and so I felt sorry for myself, emotional time for me. My bike was written off. One of my special Racing Buddies, who actually coaches me gave me some special advice, as above, and how true it is.

• You can allow your Kidney Disease to get you down, or you can pick yourself up and get on with life, guess what I chose …

• LESSON NUMBER 5:• Balance and A Healthy Lifestyle.• Take time out for yourself.• Learn to say NO!• Manage what you really need to manage in your life.• Get your priorities right• Take control of your life by living healthy e.g.. Eating, Exercise, Recreation,

so that you can share your knowledge with others.• Know your purpose and live it triumphantly.


• LESSON NUMBER 6:• Follow Your Dreams.• I made it my purpose to follow my dreams, and many of them have

come true and are coming true.• You do not want to look back on life and have regrets, action your

dreams, it really is possible, even if you live with Kidney Disease, nothing is impossible.

• We limit ourselves, not others, so reach for the stars and beyond.• I achieved one of my childhood dreams and that was to Race in the

Ladies Regionals 600CC Class and finish the Championships in the Top 10, which I have achieved, to put into perspective, I am racing against Ladies who are in their 20’s and 30’s.

• Never give up on your dreams, it is your compass to give you direction in life.

• Go Out and Make it Happen!


• LEADING SOUTH AFRICA IN CHRONIC DISEASE MANAGEMENT:

• This is a subject where so much can be done in South Africa to improve the lives of patients living with Chronic Kidney Disease.

• Each and everyone of us needs to take ownership and make ourselves accountable.

• To be the Leaders in Chronic Disease Management nationally and globally, mind sets need to be changed and it starts with each one of us here today, your families and friends.

• Awareness needs to be created, like the Workshop today.• Kidney Disease needs greater exposure to the general public via huge

campaigns like Breast Cancer, Diabetes and Aids, as a patient, there is so much more to be done.

• Educate the general public to be healthy by eating correctly and exercising.• Encourage the general public to have regular blood tests done on their

kidneys.• Promote National Renal Care South Africa to the public, they are doing a

magnificent job.• Promote Wellness and Nutrition, this is big business.• Create support groups within each Renal Unit for the patients, their

families and friends.


• Organ Donor Foundation, there is not enough awareness being created here, we all know about it, but how many actually commit to donating their organs.

• What does the general public know about the different organisations out there like the National Kidney Foundation, Gauteng Kidney Associations and various other Associations, and what their role is, they do an unbelievable job, not enough is known about them.

• More needs to be known about Kidney Transplants and the process therein.

• Get the Corporate and Pharmaceutical Companies involved, like they do with Aids.

• Create awareness in our communities.• Make South Africa the Champion for being the Leaders in Chronic

Kidney Disease Management – it can be done, all it takes each person to take that step.

• Turn all obstacles into challenges, anything can be achieved with the power of the mind and one’s attitude to life.

The strongest energy life has to offer is the energy of love…….

Constantly tap into itMake it your purpose for living

There is nothing more beautiful than loveIt is capable of ending all wars and conflicts

Love is something that no one can refuseFinance will bring you many material thingsBut there is nothing that can make you feel

the way that love makes you feelWhatever you do, do it with love and you will

be successful in whatever you doThe purpose of life is surely to love?

In closing, I would like to leave you with this…….

Our lives are not determined by what happens to us,but how we react to what happens

Not by what life brings to us,but by the attitude we bring to life

A positive attitude causes a chain of reaction of positive thoughts, events

and outcomes

It is a catalyst, a spark, that creates extraordinary results!

Documents

CONQUERING CHALLENGES AND LEADING SA IN CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE MANAGEMENT2015