What do you do when your life and health change in an instant? In this highly-anticipated episode (part 2 of a 2-part series), my friend Andre Wallace shares his journey with kidney failure, and the many lessons he learned along the way. He walked diligently with God on some of his darkest days, while also actively transforming his health. The transparency and eloquence he lends to his journey will surely touch hearts and change lives.
African Americans constitute more than 35% of all patients in the U.S. receiving dialysis for kidney failure, but only represent 13.2% of the overall U.S. population. (www.kidney.org)
Simply, there is not enough outrage over the danger posed to the health of Blacks, especially Black men, by chronic disease. While there are a multitude of complex factors at play, the fact remains that Black men are dying at an alarming rate from the complications of diabetes and high blood pressure.
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), or kidney failure, is often the result of years of uncontrolled blood pressure and/or diabetes. (Though there are other causes, these are the most common, by far.) When it starts, much like high blood pressure, it is largely silent. Our bodies are very resilient and will maintain our kidney function, the filtration system for the blood, at all costs. Accordingly, many people with kidney disease do not have severe (or recognizable) symptoms until it is very advanced and they are in need of dialysis.
About Dre:
Andre Wallace is a man of God, a father of 3 and a mentor to many. He is a barber instructor at the Ohio State Barber College and Cosmetology. He is a gifted artist and vocalist, who also aspires to explore filmmaking and podcasting.
Follow Dre on:
IG: @drecassoart
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