NEARLY dying from kidney disease has inspired a Shipston woman to help those suffering from the illness.
Amie Reason was just 18 years-old when she was rushed to hospital after losing her sight, the use of her legs and falling unconscious.
She nearly died and had to have one of her kidneys removed after it failed.
The now 23 year-old told the Observer: “All of my body stopped functioning for around seven minutes and I almost died. It turned out I was suffering from kidney disease, little did I know.
“As I had not been careful with my health, like alcohol consumption and diet, this had an adverse affect on the disease and one of my kidneys failed.”
Now Amie lives a healthy lifestyle and has been told she can live normally as long as she takes care of herself.
But the trainee accountant’s near brush with death has inspired her to give up something she loves most – chocolate.
Many patients with kidney disease have to give up the sweet treat, and Amie too was faced with a life without chocolate until she overhauled her diet.
Amie said: “I am able to eat chocolate in moderation, and live an almost normal life, but other people with more severe cases do not have that luxury.
“Giving up eating and drinking anything chocolate for a month will, I believe, sympathise with those suffering from more severe cases.”
She is hoping people will back her new choc-free month by donating money for the National Kidney Federation – the charity which supports kidney patients and their families.
“Raising money for the Kidney Federation will allow further support and awareness for sufferers,” added Amie. “If I had known previously about the symptoms of the disease and the support available, my experience could have been different.”
Visit www.gofundme.com/2n66z92c to donate.
