"Since birth, I never experienced the normal life that a kid should. I was born with #kidneyfailure, and as a child, you don’t really know what that means. Since I had no family history of kidney disease, the diagnosis came as a surprise. Be that as it may, I began my fight for survival at a very young age. But when it came time for me to have a #kidneytransplant at age 48, I chose UPMC Harrisburg to lead me to a healthier way of life. They were close to where I live, and their staff was welcoming and supportive from day one. I was on the transplant waiting list for about six years and began dialysis in 2011 to help maintain my kidney function. My mom and brother were my main support system through it all, taking me to and from the dialysis center and making sure I got all the medication and attention I needed to be ready for transplant. Even though most of my family lives out of state, that didn’t stop them from calling me to see how I was doing or checking with my mother to see if t...