The size of your fist and the shape of a bean, your kidneys are your body’s filtration system. They make sure waste doesn’t build up in your blood, allowing you to function normally. Inside this curiously shaped organ are millions of tiny filtration agents, know as nephrons, which I think you’ll agree is a pretty cool name. Each nephron is in turn made up of a glomerulus and tubule. The glomerulus acts like sieve, allowing the smaller waste products and water to flow into the tubule. Water is then re-absorbed, allowing some water and the waste products to be passed as urine.
Kidneys do other stuff too, like help control blood pressure, create red blood cells and maintain bone health. When they fail, waste products slowly build up in the bloodstream, causing our blood to become toxic. The problem is compounded because symptoms can be very non-specific at first.
What happens when they fail?
The lists of symptoms when it comes to renal failure is long and depends on the type of kidney failure. I’m going talk about
symptoms that go with Chronic Kidney Disease (which slowly gets worse, with symptoms appearing after severe damage has already been caused) and Acute Kidney Failure (which occurs suddenly with symptoms showing up relatively quickly). The following are examples of symptoms of Chronic Kidney Disease:
- Nausea
- Trouble Breathing
- Trouble Sleeping
- Abnormal amounts of urine production (too much or too little)
- Swelling in feet and ankles
- Diarrhoea
- Fever
- Rashes
- Vomiting
Why do they fail?
Our bodies are very well balanced systems, with the kidneys being a major part of of maintaining this balance. Being so integral, it generally takes a lot to send them out of whack, but modern lifestyle have made conditions kidneys never had to deal with, commonplace. The two main causes of end stage renal failure today are Diabetes and High Blood pressure, with obesity being a third contributor. These three conditions normally only lead to renal failure if left unchecked, and in many cases, can at least be controlled by a healthy lifestyle. Of course they can fail for many reasons, with this list outnumbering the symptoms list significantly in most sources I found. Causes can include:- Severe Dehydration
- Heart Attack
- Severe Blood Loss
- Lack of blood delivered to the kidney
- Kidney Trauma
- Severe Infection such as Sepsis
What happens when they fail?
Unfortunately there are not many options when kidneys do fail. There are of course various stages, which while I will not go in detail on, I will say that Stages 1 and 2 are related to mild damage, so changing to a healthy lifestyle significantly helps slow damage. Stages 3 and 4 are where medication to treat underlying causes becomes necessary, with stage 5 being the most severe stage requiring blood dialysis and a transplant.
Blood dialysis is the artificial filtration of blood, of which most local patients require 12 hours per week of. It is an invasive, painful and draining procedure that seriously negatively affects your quality of life. Transplants are somewhat more of a sustainable solution, but finding a good match can be very difficult. The procedure is also very invasive, and can leave psychological scars if after-care is not properly carried out. Kidney failure also recquires patients to follow a very strict low potassium, sodium and phosphorus diet.
What can you do?
The first thing you can do is keep yourself away from this disease by maintaining a healthy, natural lifestyle. Stay away from the precursors diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity. As we get older we should test regularly, especially if we suffer from one of the precursors. Once you’ve steered yourself of this disease its’ time to help those already suffering from it. Spread awarenesss however you can, maybe by sharing our blogs and social media posts. If you have some money to spare maybe consider donating towards a cause like ours, or if you want to put your body on the line as a way of sympathising with patients, join our annual LifeCycle Challenge!
Renal failure is not a disease we hear about often, but it is very real, deadly and devastating and with a little awareness, can happen far less often than it currently does!
More Resources
https://www.healthline.com/health/kidney-failure#alcohol https://www.medicinenet.com/kidney_failure/article.htm https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/kidneys-how-they-work https://www.kidneyfund.org/kidney-disease/kidney-failure/#what_causes_kidney_failure]]>Laos and all the way to Siem Reap in Cambodia where they finished in Angkor Watt. It was an immense challenge where they faced extremes of heat and rain with 16 of the initial 24 making it to the finish line. It was a good year in terms of team spirit, where by the end everyone felt like one big family, despite what we had been through together. It was a great year in terms of fundraising, with at least €100,000 so far going to renal patients. It’s also a year for new beginnings and refreshed efforts as we
are focusing on making fundraising a year round venture, to further improve on the support we offer renal patients.
This year, as part of these efforts, we are organising a crowdfunding campaign on social media for two main reasons. Firstly we
need to reach out for more help to provide the renal patients with their Wishlist, which includes things such as lifesaving equipment and essential psychological help. Secondly in doing so we will be working on our online presence, an essential part of raising awareness.
So…How will the crowdfunding work?
As I mentioned we will be focusing on social media, specifically facebook and instagram. Until January 2020 we will be releasing content with two special hashtags:#Endure4Renal & #LCCCrowdfunding
These hashtags will remind people about our campaign, hopefully inspire them to donate, and can be used by anyone sharing content to encourage donations! The battle against renal failure is year round, the disease doesn’t stop and neither will our efforts to get support for the renal patients. As with any good crowdfunding campaign you get prizes for your donations! The prize categories are as follows:- €20-€45: #Endure4Renal T-Shirt
- €45-€75: #Endure4Renal T-Shirt; LifeCycle Malta Bottle
- €75-€175: #Endure4Renal T-Shirt; LifeCycle Malta Bottle; 1 Month Gym Membership at ChicPhysique Studio Naxxar
- €175-€300: #Endure4Renal T-Shirt; LifeCycle Malta Bottle; 3 Months Gym Membership at ChicPhysique Studio Naxxar
The Renal Unit Wishlist
As we mentioned funds go towards fulfilling a wish list which we discuss every year with renal unit team. The following gives a quick description of where your money goes!Main Projects
Traccia
Traccia is a database company that keeps the records of all kidney recipients on our waiting list, and allocates the donor kidney to the best match and according to an established algorithm. When kidney donation is allocated to the best match, the recipient will have a better chance of a smooth transplant and will also have a longer and better quality of life without dialysis.Research
We invest annually in a research project focusing on understanding a specific type of kidney disease (autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease – or APDKD for short). The aim is to understand why it arises, in the hope of treating it more efficiently and aims to correlate genetic traits with the clinical features of the disease. APDKD is the most common form of hereditary renal disease that is the most common type to manifest in children whereby numerous cysts grow in the kidneys.R.U.S.H (Renal Unit Support Health Hub)
As we know, renal failure is a disease which greatly affects the quality of life and mental state of renal patients. We are endeavouring to offer support in respect to all aspects of this disease, and through the R.U.S.H project we will be focusing on nutritional needs, helping patients understand the disease and support them by providing psychological sessions for patients and family members. This project officially began on World Kidney Day, 2019, where we started providing psychological vouchers to patients.Equipment
- Upgrade of “Innova” machines used for any children needing dialysis.
- Mannequin arm used in training of nurses
Lourdes Trip
It is an unfortunate side effect of renal failure that those needing dialysis are unable to take a holiday or go on vacation. To give them the possibility of having a break we fund a trip to Lourdes for patients where nurses accompany them to a centre where they can get dialysis while having some time away from the day-to-day turmoil the disease brings.
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The Cambodian people had one more beautiful experience to share with our cyclists. As we set up the second checkpoint infront of a local barber shack, the barber stopped his work to set up a table and chairs for us. This may not seem like much but picture the scene, a group of 30 or so people you can’t even communicate with due to language barriers begin taking over the front of your shop. Instead of shooting angry glances, frustrated by the obvious inconvenience, you decide to not only welcome the strangers, but offer them a place to rest and help however you can. We have much to learn from these people and these random acts of kindness have blessed us the whole way through these 3 countries.
Tomorrow the cyclists need to ride their last 120km. It is inconceivable to think of any eventuality that could derail this challenge now. We will be attacking the last day of cycling with the same ferocity and determination we have all the way though, if not more. The fire is burning bright now and we all feel like roaring all the way to the finish. Emotions tomorrow will run high one way or another, but I really can’t describe in words the excitement we all feel. Team morale is absolutely electric.
We are so proud of the cyclists because this year, just like every other, they have helped renal patients on two fronts. Firstly their efforts have attracted the funds and sponsorships needed to provide care and support. Secondly the patients now have 31 more comrades,31 more people willing to put themselves through hell and back in support. Will you answer the call?]]>
There was a slight incline all day, meaning you were constantly pushing slightly. The road was coarse meaning vibrations constantly frayed our cyclist’s nerves. There was also rain, so much rain! Our first heavy downpour, which got mixed reviews. Of course, after all this heat, rain is a god-send, but the rapidly changing weather can be difficult to handle, especially when its at two such extremes.
As the cyclists reached the border and crossed into their final country for this trip, Cambodia, morale was high. The cyclists can
taste the end now, and look forward to seeing that wonder of the world get bigger in their sights. LifeCycle has travelled all the world, and this finish at Angkor Watt promises to be one of the most special, and one of the most had earned in our 21 year history.
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Over the 233km cyclists needed well over 350 litres of water, and what I can only describe as more food than I’ve ever seen in my life in one place. As you can imagine this would be a logistical nightmare anywhere in the world, let alone Laos. Both cyclists and backup get moments when we wonder, is this even possible. 
And the answer is no, not on our own. Luckily we are in Laos, a place where going out of your way to help seems to be the norm.
from headaches and dehydration, and some even blistering. Many first-timers admitted that even though they knew it was tough, they had no idea how tough. There is no way to conceive these cyclists’ hardship without seeing it or experiencing it for yourself. Many of us feel more comfortable shying away from realities or immense challenges. On every count, this can not be said about any one of the people here.
They have visited the renal unit, saw the suffering of the patients, stared that suffering in the face and decided to help patients take it head-on, by spreading awareness and understanding. Our cyclists are suffering, both for and with renal patients because they want to relate to what patients go through, as a kind of solidarity. Every pedal stroke is only made worth it if we can provide the patients what they need, so if you can spare even a few euros, please do donate to the cause through the various channels described on our website: www.lifecyclefoundation.com/support-us.
Tomorrow will be another behemoth of a day, 233km to the modern city of Pakse. As I write this every fiber in our cyclists’ bodies shudder. But then suddenly the patients come to the forefront of our minds. The shudders turn into determination and grit, which will no doubt turn to fiery rage halfway through the day and fuel them to the next destination. One way or another, tonight we will be at the accommodation safe and sound as a team, broken but not defeated.]]>
officially in the running for a full completion. I asked a cyclist how many walls he has hit so far, either physically or mentally. Unsurprisingly he answered daily at least once, and more as time goes on. This challenge is not for the faint of heart, whether you plan to cycle or be backup.
You need to be tough, accept that you will break, and get ready to breathe and pick yourself back up when you least feel like you can. As always people show their true humanity in harsh situations. Cyclists were feeling ill from the heat, couldn’t breathe because of humidity, and a fair few have stomach issues. There always comes a point where the relationship between cyclists and backup gets highlighted. People began refilling cyclists bottles as they cycled rather than just Checkpoints, spraying them with water as they battled incredible heat, and putting everything they could into getting the cyclists to that border.
In these moments I’m in love with this challenge. When it feels like we are working towards a common goal and everyone’s attitude is one of ‘throw what you like at us, we’re all getting there, and we’re all getting there in one piece’ And so the cyclists rode the 169 km to the Lao Bao Border in searing heat. Once they got there they had to endure the tedious process of going through border control but when that was done they were in LAOS! Enjoying a beautiful Laotian sunset as they rode the last 50km into their accommodation for the night in Xepon.]]>
rewarded for their efforts with a downhill, dare I say maybe even a cloudy downhill according to the weather report yesterday. These hopes were dashed unfortunately and the downhill turned to undulations and the clouds gave way to searing heat, once again.
As time goes by there are certain injuries, or annoyances, that arise due to repeated movement and around 10-12 hours a day on a
bike. Cyclists will know what I’m talking about. People have started to complain of saddle sores, numb hands, stiff necks, backaches, all things that can push someone over the edge when cycling 167km with no way of cooling down or slight breeze to help you out.
While some cyclists were still out of action for their own safety, others had a choice to make. Face an incredibly difficult day, or sit in an air-conditioned van. Any normal human being would choose an air-conditioned van, but these guys are made of the stuff champions are, with most of them taking on the challenge and cycling, despite having the option. Those whose bodies simply did not allow them to cycle, immediately rose to the cause and became essential members of the backup team, which by now, was also feeling the pressure.
Food was running short, water was low, and at times it all seemed like it was ready to explode. Tears rolled down faces and tensions rose high. I found myself with teary-eyes many times a day after one of my now-personal-heroes nearly broke down for example. However we all have someone in the team who holds us together. The cooks have become the surrogate mum-and-dad figures. There are the crazy uncles, the dramatic aunts, the loveable sisters and the fun cousins. It’s absolutely insane, but it works very very well.
All the cyclists that got on the bike in Huang Khe pedaled the 167km to Dong Hoi. There were those that were feeling faint by the end, the word ‘exhausted’ is on the top of the list, followed by the words ‘dehydrated’ and ‘absolutely knackered’. We all agree on one thing though, that LifeCycle makes adults of younglings, heroes of every day and makes us all better people. How can we possibly complain about cycling across this incredibly beautiful country, when we are all healthy, with both kidneys working, and a lifestyle that hasn’t been turned upside down by a disease no one ever saw coming.]]>Sweat cools us down in two ways. Firstly by wetting our skin and secondly by evaporation. When evaporating the water uses some of our heat energy to be released into the air, and so, cooling us down. However, in this corner of the woods, your sweat never dries, meaning your body cannot really control it’s temperature well. Over and above this actually means you lose more water as your body tries to sweat more to avoid overheating.
It is a devastating combination, leading to a cyclist needing to drop from the challenge due to heat exhaustion. The cyclists are
consuming around 16 liters of water a day per person, meaning as a team we are consuming around 288 liters of water per day. And still, we are all dehydrated. Looking back it almost seems ironic that we were so worried about the rain that we are now so desperate for.
The terrain undulated the whole 233km to Huong Khe, with some cyclists taking over 13.5 hours to reach the accommodation. I’ll repeat that, 13.5 hours, after two incredibly difficult days, with seven days left. But lifecycle isn’t something you do for the fun, you do it for the patients and for the experience.
And with that, I feel obliged to speak about Vietnam for a second, though I could never do it’s beauty justice. I have been lucky enough to be on four Lifecyles as a backup team member, and along the way you meet friendly people. Every year I have been astounded by the Icelandic, then the Zambians and finally by the Kenyans and Tanzanians, and this year has been no different.
We all feel so welcomed, as we battle the heat through the mountains of trees along the legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail. It is hard, and heartbreaking, to realise what these people went through not so long ago. Yet they came out the other side a beautiful country with caring people, offering cyclists tea, constantly smiling and offering the backup team anything they can give, including their front gardens for Checkpoints!!
As the cyclists rode in many needed care, ranging from treating injuries to heat exhaustion and dehydration. It is starting to feel very intense but as it gets harder the team bond grows stronger, we look out for each other and we will get to the end