Dialysis Is Just One Part of Sandra's Inspiring Journey

Kidney failure is a part of Sandra Cannon’s life, but she refuses to let it slow her down. In fact, she credits dialysis for giving her the energy she needs to live life to the fullest. Sandra enjoys spending time with her family, taking long walks, and participating in her local church. She even works dialysis into her busy schedule while traveling. “When we were on our last vacation,” Sandra says, “I’d wake up, disconnect my dialysis machine, grab my coffee, and head to the beach to watch the sunrise with my son.” 

When Sandra discovered she had kidney failure after an abdominal surgery, she was concerned about losing her freedom and wondered if she truly wanted to pursue treatment. Instead of moving forward with treatment, Sandra felt her health deteriorate until she was weak and exhausted. “I went for a year with kidney failure, and I was getting pretty bad,” she recalls. “But my son kept after me to keep trying to treat my kidney disease, and I’m glad!”

Thanks to her supportive family and encouraging care team, Sandra decided to try peritoneal dialysis (PD). Because she still had a little kidney function (also referred to as residual kidney function) home PD was a great option for Sandra. Every night, she attaches a PD catheter to her dialysis machine, which uses a cleansing fluid and her body to filter waste, toxins, and excess fluid while she sleeps. Then she wakes up feeling refreshed and ready for the day. Sandra says the process made a difference in her stamina right away: “Within that first week — oh, you cannot imagine how much better I felt!”

Sandra thanks her home dialysis training nurse, Andrea, for her positive can-do attitude and determination. “She said, ‘Sandra, I have a lot of tricks up my sleeve, so we will make this work!’ That gave me a lot of confidence before we even got started because I knew she wanted me to succeed as much as I did.”

After Sandra got her strength back and became comfortable doing automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) at home while sleeping, she was more than ready to return to her favorite activities. “I’m very active and I love my freedom,” Sandra explains. “I don’t like staying in a house and being confined. There are too many things out there to enjoy!”

One of Sandra’s favorite things to do with her refreshed freedom is travel. She is a Diamond Member of Royal Caribbean, and she says that bringing her PD equipment onboard the cruise ship is a breeze. She brings her equipment with her on every trip so she can keep up with nightly treatments.

For other people who enjoy traveling while on PD, Sandra recommends staying organized and keeping a week’s worth of supplies ready to go. Supplies can be mailed to the destination for longer trips. “I mean, it takes planning, but everything worth doing takes effort,” Sandra says.

Dialysis is still part of Sandra’s routine while cruising, but she has plenty of time to enjoy her vacation. “You hook up, let the machine do its job, and then wake up with your whole day in front of you,” she says. “It’s no different than being at home, except I enjoy it better!”

For Sandra, one of the most fulfilling parts of living well is participating in her local church. She is a member of the congregation’s women’s ministry and has taught Sunday school to toddlers for over 35 years.

Faith was one of the most important factors for Sandra when she decided to try home dialysis. She says, “I told God the thing that was bothering me most was that I’d have to give up playing with the two-year-olds. But when I started PD, I was like, ‘Yes! Yes, I can still do it!’”

Sandra is grateful that she has the stamina to keep doing what she loves. “That was my biggest blessing, that I had the energy to play with the children — and you know you’ve got to be on your toes with two-year-olds!” Sandra laughs.

Sandra is self-motivated, but she recognizes that a strong support system is key to success: “I thank my doctor, the center, and my family. They are very supportive — they encourage me as much as I encourage myself.”

Today, Sandra harnesses this positivity to inspire other people to thrive on dialysis. Despite her busy schedule, she finds time to speak at her local center about trying PD if possible. She emphasizes that even though dialysis is an adjustment, it’s manageable: “You wash your hands, stay sanitary, and eat right — which we should all be doing anyway.” And when it comes to finding time for dialysis on top of her busy lifestyle, Sandra says, “I mean, everybody’s got to sleep!”

Living life to the fullest while supporting her health has made all the difference for Sandra. “Extending your life is one thing, but it’s another to truly live and to enjoy life. And I am enjoying life!”