Kidney disease has had a significant impact on my family, both emotionally and practically. It started when my grandfather was diagnosed a few years ago. At first, the changes were small—he had to watch his diet, take medication, and go for regular checkups. But as his condition worsened, he needed dialysis several times a week. That’s when things really started to change for all of us. My mom took on a lot of the responsibility. She would drive him to appointments, stay with him during treatments, and make sure he was eating properly. I could see how tired she was, but she never complained. The rest of us tried to help in little ways—cooking meals, doing errands, or just keeping my grandfather company. It became a team effort, and even though it was hard, it brought us closer together. Emotionally, it was tough watching someone we love go through so much. My grandfather was always strong and independent, and seeing him hooked up to a machine, feeling weak, was difficult. He didn’t talk about his pain much, but we could see it in his eyes. There was a lot of quiet worry in the house, even on good days. We never knew if things would suddenly get worse. Financially, it was also a burden. Even with insurance, the costs added up—gas for driving back and forth, time off work, and unexpected medical expenses. My family had to make sacrifices, but we managed. It taught us to value what we have and support one another without expecting anything in return. One thing that changed for the better is how we approach health now. Everyone in the family is more careful—we drink more water, eat better, and go for regular checkups. We talk more openly about our health and support each other in making better choices. It’s like we’ve learned to take care of ourselves not just for our own sake, but for each other too. Now, when I look at my family, I see resilience. We’ve faced something really difficult and found a way to keep going. We’ve cried, laughed, and leaned on each other through it all. Kidney disease changed our lives—but it also reminded us how strong love can be when it's tested. Kidney disease has definitely left its mark on my family. It brought a lot of challenges, but it also brought us together. Through it all, we’ve learned how strong we can be when we support each other.