For more than two decades, a clinic dedicated to caring for adolescents and young adults with advanced kidney disease has made its mark - thriving in the heart of
Since
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Transition care model
According to
"We acknowledge that the move can be daunting, and due to a lack of support, patients may not be as diligent with their follow-ups as before. This can be very dangerous, because non-adherence to medication could lead to kidney disease progression, and even kidney allograft rejection," she said. "So, what we have done is introduce a transition system that encompasses a purposeful and planned movement of adolescents with chronic kidney illnesses from paediatric to adult care, and the clinic has grown from strength to strength."
Barday and her team work closely with the
Interactive, stimulating, nurturing environment
Once patients have made the transition, their number of clinic visits depend on their conditions. Barday said some patients are required to visit the clinic regularly, while others visit once a month or once every second month. Their sessions include time with the resident nephrologist and clinic nurse and comprise a full clinical exam to ensure they're on the right track, have remained "engaged in their well-being" and adherent to their medication. The clinical session also offers the patient the opportunity to discuss any concerns with a trained clinician.
But clinic visits are not just for serious business. And for Solomon, who also serves as a patient mentor, his visits are the highlight of his month. Before the clinical exam, patients unwind and connect with each other during a support group session. They play board games, listen to music or participate in a drama or karate class. He said the young adults are also taught valuable life skills, as well as interpersonal and conflict resolution skills, and engage in discussions and debates on important events affecting the world.
"We get to laugh and relax, but at the same time we don't lose sight of the reason that we are here."
"These social slots are the flip side of the coin. We get to laugh and relax, but at the same time we don't lose sight of the real reason that we are there. The road was not easy - not for any of us or our families. I know my parents, Ashley and Ruth, and my extended family made many sacrifices for me. It's been a very hard road. But this is the second chance we prayed for, and we need to make sure we keep healthy. This clinic allows us to do this, and I thank everyone involved for this opportunity," Solomon said.
Seeing the world through a different lens
And Kenny feels the same. He said the clinic has played an instrumental role in his post-transplant journey and has helped him see the world through a different lens. Thanks to staff members' constant encouragement, he has managed to accept his chronic kidney condition - cystinosis - a rare genetic disorder that typically affects the kidneys and causes an amino acid to build up in the body's cells. This process leads to crystallisation, which in turn affects the organ's functionality.
"Being here has meant so much. In the beginning, I must admit, I was fearful. It was an unknown environment and very different to
Because few people realise that dealing with a chronic condition becomes increasingly difficult as the patient moves into adulthood, Kenny said a solid support system other than immediate family and friends is important. And
'I'm a better person because of it'
Kenny, an aspiring actor, who's made his debut on local telenovela Arends Vlei, has enjoyed serving fellow patients in a mentorship capacity, getting to know them on a different level, and understanding their challenges.
"People open up during our sharing sessions and some stories break the heart. Some I can relate to, others not. And so, being a mentor has taught me a different level of compassion. It's taught me to listen to understand and not just for the sake of listening. It's taught me to have empathy and to remember that our contexts play such a big role in who we are. It's safe to say that the clinic continues to conscientise me on all of this and I'm a better person because of it," he said.
Over the years, Solomon and Kenny have learned to embrace their chronic kidney conditions, as well as the long list of things that go with it, including their regular clinic visits, their daily doses of medication and maintaining a healthy, well-balanced lifestyle. What matters now is "living our lives to the full" and encouraging those patients out there with similar stories to do the same.
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