For the last 20 of her 72 years, Carmen Garcia has had chronic kidney disease, the unfortunate result of years of high blood pressure. She was diagnosed with CKD in 1986, started hemodialysis in 1987, switched to peritoneal dialysis in 1988, and received a kidney transplant (courtesy of her sister) in 1989. In 1995 the kidney failed. Carmen then received dialysis treatment at Hope Street until 2003, when she started home dialysis. Because of her long history with CKD and dialysis, Carmen is a patient care representative and NKF People Like Us patient advocate at Hope Street; she frequently visits to counsel other patients—especially those new to dialysis—because they are experiencing the same emotions she went through.

Despite being a CKD patient, Carmen doesn’t think of herself that way. Before her medical problems, she was a high school English teacher and was active in her school’s extracurricular activities: she was the head of the drama club and directed or produced all their productions for 20 years, and coached the girl’s basketball team. In her spare time (when she had any), Carmen was a devoted soccer player. When she got a bit too old to play, she continued to coach her team.

Amidst all this activity, Carmen somehow found the time to marry and raise a daughter with her husband, Victor, who passed away in 2001.

Being so active all her life made it very difficult for Carmen to accept that, because of her CKD and dialysis, she had to change her lifestyle so drastically. Initially, she was angry and resentful and often took it out on her family and friends. She also ignored the advice of her health care professionals: she’d arrive at dialysis late, leave early, eat and drink improperly. Of course, she got sicker and sicker—until one day, when she was deathly ill, she suddenly and finally realized that the only way forward was to accept her situation. And as soon as she did this, her outlook changed dramatically—and for the better, as did her health.

The greatest gift she ever received was the kidney donated by her sister, Julia. And although she did experience many of the side effects of the medications, Carmen thrived. She even started teaching again.

When her transplanted kidney began to fail, Carmen’s family was afraid she’d be as despondent as she was when she was first diagnosed. But Carmen had learned that lesson, and accepted the fact that she had to go back on dialysis. As she always says, “It’s better than the alternative.”

Meet the rest of the characters of Hope Street.