Amp needs a kidney

Amp needs a kidney A guy trying to correct the mistakes of being young and stubborn

02/22/2026

Something I've ve been struggling with lately. I feel like I should be stronger a d doing g more than I am. Now granted, I got my 2nd leg in Aug, a little bit of home therapy, but had a break until December before starting actual PT. That hasn't been as consistent as it could be due to health and other reasons. Most days are a struggle to some extent. Dialysis doesn't help. The sense of overwhelming due to my apartment doesn't help. Trying to hold down my job doesn't help. In the grand scheme of things, I know i'm where I should be. In some aspects, maybe ahead, probably behind in others. Overall, where I should be. I'm independent enough to survive each day, to get to most of my many appointments. I may not be able to get ahead on anything, but I at least maintain. I wish I could do more. I know that day will come. I'm so limited in what I can do and in some ways, limitation will likely always be a factor. I know that as time passes and I continue to work on it, I will do more and the limitations will become less. For now, I continue to trudge ahead. Take the days after PT (like today) and do nothing if that's what is needed. Mentally, I have so much to do. Physically, it's going to take more time than I want it to. I'll get there...eventually

01/30/2026

I've been pretty quiet on this page recently. Here's an update. Could use some prayer. Between being stuck with snow, and recent changes in dialysis, I've been down in the dumps this week. I don't handle cold well, and it's been warmer in Alaska (literally). On top of that, recent "adequacy" test came back showing I wasn't cleansing enough toxins during dialysis, so we made treatment longer and added a mid day bag. The whole point of doing PD was so that I wouldn't have to do stuff during the day, yet here we are. I'm going to stick with it as long as I can, but it's wearing mentally. I might be switching to hemo. We shall see. Bottom line, i'm tired and need prayer.

11/26/2025

Had my first session of physical therapy yesterday. Therapist recognized and remembered me from in patient earlier this year. She was very encouraging throughout the session as we talked about next steps (literally and figurative). Before leaving, she pointed out that I am miles ahead of where they would expect me to be given the timeline. Pretty encouraging since I have to constantly remind myself that I've only been on both legs for a couple months. I'm impatient lol happy thanksgiving

10/14/2025

Just got off the phone with the dialysis nurse. She told me she had a patient last year that was told in November that he was in the top 20. This is the only reason I will accept being in the hospital this Christmas. That would be the best Christmas gift ever lol *prayers* it's getting real y'all

10/10/2025

Time for an update, and a good one at that. Just got off the phone with my transplant coordinator. I am once again active on the list. While there is no guarantee and no way of truly knowing, she said she suspects i'm in the 6-month time frame of getting "the call". While I do need a break from "life-changing surgeries", I will gladly accept this one

10/03/2025

Update: had my annual evaluation yesterday. They want me to do an echo and an exercise test to ensure that I will be able to get up and be active after the surgery. Hopefully will get that scheduled today or tomorrow. Also referring me for physical therapy to build strength in my legs. I'm OK with that as I have relapse a bit without some sort of structure for the exercises. They will present my case to the board on Tuesday and decide if I can be active on the list again. Prayers always appreciated. The people I spoke to yesterday seemed optimistic that I would be reactivated. Random note to self: I have way too many big projects I want to do/accomplish lol I appreciate everyone's prayers. I definitely need them.

09/25/2025

Been awhile since I've posted an update. Don't fully remember what the last update was lol this week marked a month that I have been back in my apartment. Feels longer, but I have to keep reminding myself, especially when I look around and see what still needs to be cleaned. I feel like I haven't done much, but in reality, I've done a decent amount for my current abilities. The important thing is to keep at it and do a little something each day. That and my exercises. I've gotten a little lazy on exercises since getting back to work. I've let excuses (some valid and some not) slow me down on both the cleaning and exercising. Not a bad thing that I've slowed down, I just can't stay at this pace. I'll get my butt in gear, hopefully sooner than later. A fun thing that's happened is my hand controls got installed on my car, so now it's a waiting game with dmv until i'm a LEGAL driver again. On a kidney note, I go do my annual evaluation next week and (pending results) get re-activated on the transplant list. Hopefully there are no hiccups on that. Prayers appreciated.

09/13/2025

Calling it quits for the day, but before I do, wanted to expound on a post I made on my personal page earlier today. Living independently (particularly by yourself) with one or more major health issues is not for the weak, physically or otherwise. The physical part is "easy" to fix. Regularly push your muscles slightly past their limit (by exercise or just life) and over time, your limit will increase. Emotionally, you need to be able to withstand the wide range of emotions you face on a day to day. You can wake up feeling like you got run over by a truck, be feeling strong and confident a few minutes later, and something can happen minutes later that leaves you feeling weak and useless. The important thing is to not let these emotions control you or dictate your actions, even the strong and confident emotion. Don't let it trick you into doing something that you have no business attempting to do. Mentally, you have to push yourself every day. Maintain discipline. Convince yourself that you can keep going when you don't think you can or don't know how to. For those who have visible illnesses, you have the added aspect of dealing with people's reactions. Sometimes it's good, but other times can leave you wanting to crawl into the closet. Who wins in that case? Not you and certainly not the other person. Some may argue this, but I believe it also takes a certain amount of faith as well. I know for me personally, faith is what has gotten me as far as I have come. Now i'm not saying I possess all of these strengths, or have even experienced a need for each of these. I do believe though, at one point or another, all of these strengths are needed, as well as others not mentioned.

08/31/2025

US develops wearable artificial kidney for chronic kidney disease patients

American bioengineers have unveiled a portable, wearable artificial kidney that allows patients with end-stage kidney disease to filter blood continuously outside the hospital. This device combines microfluidic membranes, nanofilters, and bioengineered enzymes in a compact system that attaches comfortably to the body.

Unlike traditional dialysis, which requires patients to spend hours hooked to machines, the wearable kidney operates 24/7, mimicking natural kidney function. Blood is filtered in real time, toxins are removed, and essential electrolytes are balanced continuously, dramatically improving patient health.

The device is powered by low-energy pumps and rechargeable batteries, designed for mobility and long-term use. Smart sensors monitor filtration efficiency, alerting patients or doctors to any malfunction instantly. This provides unprecedented autonomy for patients who previously relied on clinical dialysis centers.

Clinical trials show improved cardiovascular outcomes, reduced fatigue, and better quality of life. Because the system is portable, patients can maintain daily activities while receiving continuous treatment, a revolutionary shift from the constraints of traditional dialysis.

Researchers are also exploring integrating sensors for early disease detection, so the device could potentially monitor kidney function and predict complications before they arise. In this sense, the wearable kidney is both a therapy and a preventive tool.

This invention represents a leap forward in medical technology, offering a sustainable solution to kidney disease that combines engineering, biotechnology, and patient-centered design.

08/30/2025

It happened. Hurt myself a little due to a fall this evening. I'm sure, but I'll be alright. Might have to take it easy tomorrow. We shall see. Good news though. Saw my kidney Dr and care team today. Everything is looking good. Got a couple numbers to work on, but overall good labs. Hope everyone has a good holiday weekend.

It was a mostly wasted day. It seemed th I s morning that if it could go wrong, it did. The positive out of today? I got...
08/29/2025

It was a mostly wasted day. It seemed th I s morning that if it could go wrong, it did. The positive out of today? I got the first carbon fiber leg for the right side. I'll have this for maybe a year, depends on how much my stump continues to shrink. S I in the meantime, I get t ok find a piece of fabric to design the next leg. Do I do another Earnhardt Sr to make them match? Do Jr and make it father and son? Or do I just make my legs my two favorite things and make this one the marauders map (Harry potter)

08/23/2025

Big update *drumroll* I'm back home in my apartment! :) officially came back this week and am SLOWLY getting things straight. It needed cleaning before everything happened and for the last 8 months has been little more than a storage unit. My stamina and endurance is still low when it comes to standing or doing stuff (gonna take awhile to build that back up) so I am only able to do one or two things before I have to sit and rest for a minute. For example, I just cleaned out a box that had a few dialysis supplies and then took that and another box to the dumpster. Now I sit here and rest as I type this. Going to tackle the fridge next and will no doubt need a break after haha I have a lady coming out in a couple weeks to tackle some of the bigger things for me and then I will probably have a cleaning service come out every so often to help me maintain. I can't do what I used to, but I can do so much more than what I could a few months ago. I do my 2nd driving training this week (yay for being 16 again lol) and go back to work after labor day. Yay for life finally starting to get back to normal.

Address

Chesterfield, VA

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Amp needs a kidney posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram

Category