Friends Mandy Moore and Debbie Brown are at very different stages of their renal health journeys.
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Ms Moore, of Longford, underwent a kidney transplant six years ago.
Since, she has dedicated her time to raising awareness and funds for kidney health, and making the most of life.
Mrs Brown, a Newnham resident, faces a different and uncertain situation. Mrs Brown, 57, was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease when she was five years old.
The condition, which is inherited, results in clusters of fluid-filled cysts developing within the kidneys.
"I've gone through my life with recurring infections," Mrs Brown said.
"It's got to a stage now that my renal function has dropped down considerably so I'm now doing peritoneal dialysis every night."
Mrs Brown's dependence on dialysis causes significant inconvenience.
When she travels to the mainland, she is required to transport solution to a forwarded address.
"Emotionally, having the machine beside my bed every night, I find that hard to deal with," Mrs Brown said.
"If we go away overnight anywhere, we have to pack that machine up and we have to take it with us.”
Retirement spent exploring in a motor-home is no longer an option for Mrs Brown, due to the inconvenience of having to pull into a caravan park to access power every night.
Imposing dialysis equipment is a constant reminder of her condition.
"Another thing I found really hard is ... I just felt that the whole dialysis thing took over my home,” Mrs Brown said.
“I was always a person who had a tidy home, now I have about 45 boxes delivered every month," she said.
"It's not my home anymore, it just doesn't feel like my home."
Mrs Brown explained her family were unable to donate, as her sister and children also had the inherited disease.
Mrs Brown’s brother-in-law’s kidney may not be compatible with hers, but he has offered to donate through a paired exchange program.
The exchange could involve up to six pairs, and will see Mrs Brown’s brother-in-law donating his kidney to a compatible recipient, and Mrs Brown receiving a donor organ.
She is also on the deceased donor register, and said receiving a kidney from a deceased donor would evoke mixed emotions.
"When the phone rings and I see a number that I don't know, your heart does give a little flutter and you think 'woah, is that it'," Mrs Brown said.
"You can't wait for that day ... but if it's a deceased donor then it's like, 'well, someone’s lost their life for me’,” she said.
Ms Moore, 48, was once on dialysis, and entrenched herself in a community touched by renal failure.
“Having gone on to dialysis, I understood, I sat in the waiting room and I listened to other people's stories,” Ms Moore said.
“I watched lots of people, I made lots of friends and a lot of them aren't here anymore, they've passed on,” she said.
“But then a lot went on to have transplants and it's just truly beautiful."
Ms Moore battled glomerulonephritis, an inflammation of the kidneys, since she was diagnosed as a child.
She began dialysis when she was 39 years old, before receiving a life-changing kidney transplant.
"I was very, very fortunate, [I was] prepared for quite a wait,” Ms Moore said.
“But an aunty in Melbourne came forward, decided to be tested, and we were a good match ... that's led to a beautiful bond."
Mrs Brown and Ms Moore described the sense of isolation kidney disease can cause.
While Ms Moore is optimistic, having experienced the hardship of disease and the relief of a transplant, Mrs Brown remains in an uncertain situation.
“I connect to the machine for nine, nine and a half hours every night,” Mrs Brown said.
“I suppose, along with that, yes, you do get depressed,” she said.
“So it’s good to have a good support network around you."
Ms Moore and Mrs Brown described the mixed feelings of gratefulness and isolation dialysis could bring. The pair stressed the importance of staying positive amid the uncertainty.
"Deb and I get up and go do things and we've got a good unit, but for a lot of people depression creeps in, the isolation, the complete change of life," Ms Moore said.
"It's mind blowing what I've learnt since having my transplant – the isolation, the partner becomes a carer,” she said.
“Everything changes."
Both women emphasised the need to stay in good health to prevent kidney disease. One in three Australians are at increased risk of kidney disease, and 90 per cent of kidney function can be lost without experiencing feeling ill.
Mrs Brown said renal health issues weren’t necessarily visible on those suffering.
“The amount of people that say to me, 'you look so well' and I know I do look well,” Mrs Brown said.
“There's probably people out there everywhere that look well but underneath it all, they're probably going through similar to what we've been going through."
Mrs Brown and Ms Moore met at a kidney awareness event Ms Moore organised.
"Quite often we learn about things when we go to the doctor's surgery, and it's already in motion and it's already happening, but if we can learn out in society ... it's just wonderful," Ms Moore said.