I never thought much about my kidneys. I felt fine, I stayed active, and at 74 years old, I figured I was in pretty good shape. But kidney disease has a way of sneaking up on you. By the time most people find out they have it, they’re already in trouble. That could have been me—but thanks to the right care at the right time, I got a transplant before I ever needed dialysis.
The first hint of a problem came when my primary care doctor noticed something in my labs and sent me to a kidney specialist. At first, I didn’t understand what all the fuss was about—why worry if I felt fine? But when the doctor explained my kidney function was declining, I realized I had to take it seriously. My mother had died from kidney failure, and diabetes ran in my family. I didn’t want to follow in their footsteps.
Making the lifestyle changes necessary to stay healthy with kidney disease could have been daunting, but I was fortunate in that I was not alone on this journey. I met Kathy, my care coordinator from Interwell Health, who worked closely with my doctor to help me navigate my options. She educated me about my disease, walked me through my treatment choices, and even took me on a tour of a dialysis center so I could see for myself what I was trying to prevent. But she didn’t stop there—she connected me with a dietitian and mental health support and helped me make real changes to keep my kidney function stable. More than anything, she made sure I knew that a transplant before dialysis was my best shot at staying healthy.
I had to change the way I took care of myself. Before all this, I used to brag that I never drank water. Turns out that wasn’t something to be proud of. With guidance from my dietitian—and a lot of encouragement from my wife—I cut back on soda and tea and started drinking mostly water. I also stayed active—I’ve always loved dancing, especially shag dancing, and I coach middle school football. Keeping my body moving helped keep me strong while I waited for a transplant.
Just as I was making progress, I caught COVID-19, and it hit me hard. My kidney function dropped so low that I suddenly qualified for a transplant. It was a strange silver lining—within months, I was officially on the transplant list.
I waited three years for the call to come. When it finally did, my wife and I rushed to the hospital, and within hours, I had a new kidney. The transplant went smoothly and the kidney started working right away. I knew in that moment that my life had changed for the better.
Today, I feel better than I have in years. I’m back to shag dancing and living my life the way I want to. Looking back, I realize how lucky I was to have a care team that focused on keeping me off dialysis and getting me a transplant early. Without this support, I might not be here—or I’d still be tied to a dialysis machine.
Too many people don’t know they have kidney disease until it’s too late. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Health care is changing—nephrologists and care teams like mine are being rewarded for keeping patients healthier, not just treating them when they’re already sick. I’m proof that this model works. More patients should have access to this kind of support—it saved my life, and it could save many others.
If you have kidney disease, don’t wait to take action. Ask questions, talk to your doctor, and take advantage of the resources available. Getting ahead of kidney disease made all the difference for me—and it might for you, too.
Charlie Cloninger is a kidney transplant recipient from Greenville, NC. An active dancer and DJ, he shares his story to encourage others facing kidney disease to not give up. With the support of his Interwell Health team, he is committed to helping others improve their quality of life and outcomes.
