“Doctors had already told me two years ago that my kidneys were failing but I refused to heed their advice to prepare for dialysis. Eventually, I collapsed and had a heart attack. Back then, I felt that I was already old. At 69 years old, why would I want to put myself through more pain and suffering? I was stubborn and decided to stop going to the doctor.
When I woke up in the hospital, I was filled with remorse when I saw how worried my husband and sons were. I thought about my grandson, who was diagnosed with leukaemia when he was just 4. He suffered so much pain but never once shed a tear over his condition. Instead, we were the ones crying! He had so much courage even at such a young age. I felt ashamed when I thought about how I had wanted to give up. My grandson, now 21, told me to stay strong and to fight this disease.
When I was discharged, I decided that I wanted to live a purposeful life. My health was also much better once I began receiving quality dialysis treatment from NKF. I have more energy and feel much livelier. There are many activities to engage us at the dialysis centre. I attend the art classes and exercise sessions every week! I have developed close friendships with my fellow patients and nurses. Having to live with kidney failure is not easy and many patients despair at their condition. That was one of the reasons why I decided to become a patient volunteer. I visit other dialysis centres to befriend patients and offer them moral support. I think it is easier for them to relate to me because I am just like them, a kidney patient.”
– Mdm Aw Ah Moy
重获新生，心存感激
“两年前，我被诊断出肾衰竭。医生建议我开始洗肾。然而，我对他的建议置之不理。直到有一天，我因心脏病发作，突然瘫倒在地。当时的我69岁，觉得自己都一大把年纪了，实在不愿意忍受皮肉之苦。我坚决不洗肾，连医生的复诊也不去了。
我在医院里恢复知觉时只见我丈夫和儿子愁容满面，我深深为自己之前的行为感到自责。我回想起我的孙子在四岁时，不幸得了白血病。我们都被这突如其来的消息弄得不知所措，以泪洗脸。虽然小小年纪就要忍受病魔的折腾，但他从没向病魔低头或掉过一滴泪，实在是勇气可嘉！我却因为害怕还想轻易放弃自己宝贵的生命，让我感到非常惭愧。我的孙子，现在已经21岁了。他告诉我要坚强乐观，一家人会陪同我战胜病魔。
我出院时，下定决心活在当下，让生命更加有意义。我开始在NKF洗肾，健康情况也逐渐大为好转。我每周都会参加在洗肾中心举办的手工制作课和运动班。我和病友以及护士们也结下了深厚的友谊。面对并接受肾衰竭的事实并不容易，许多病友都陷入绝望之中。这也激励了我当一名病友义工。我会造访其他的洗肾中心与病友聊天说说近况，给予他们精神上的支持。我是过来人，能够充分体会他们的处境和感受。他们也比较愿意敞开心房与我分享他们的顾虑和倾听我的忠告。
我现在的人生目标非常简单： 认识更多人，帮助他们在生活中做出积极的改变。我非常感激支持NKF的善心人士，让我能够继续接受洗肾治疗，延续生命。我和我的家人都非常珍惜这第二次宝贵的机会。”
– 欧珍因
