**Houston Woman Shares Kidney Disease Journey to Raise Awareness Ahead of Houston Kidney Walk**
As many as nine in 10 adults with chronic kidney disease don’t even know they have it, according to the CDC, which estimates that more than 30 million people in the U.S. are living with the condition. For Alexis Conell, a Houston resident, this statistic hits close to home—she once had no idea anything was wrong with her kidneys, mainly because she had no symptoms.
“In 2009, I was what some would call living my best life. I had a successful modeling career. I was working full time, traveling,” Conell recalls. “I thought I was doing all the right things. I was eating well. I was working out four to five times a week.”
However, during a routine exam, her doctor noticed a small amount of protein in her urine—a potential warning sign. “They checked it a couple of times and thought maybe it was just a fluke,” she explained. Despite being referred to a nephrologist (a kidney specialist), Conell admits, “I had no symptoms. I was feeling great, everything was good. And so I didn’t go.”
Everything changed a few months later when Conell ended up in the emergency room with severe back pain, which she initially assumed was from lifting weights. After finally seeing a nephrologist, Conell learned she had lost significant kidney function. A biopsy revealed she had Fibrillary Glomerulonephritis—a rare disease affecting the kidneys’ millions of tiny filtering units, called glomeruli.
A round of chemotherapy failed to help, and by 2011, Conell was placed on dialysis. “I did nine hours a night at home and eventually had to add an exchange at my office during the day,” she recalled.
In early 2012, her nephrologist advised her to join multiple kidney transplant lists in Illinois, where she lived at the time. By July of that year, she received a life-changing phone call in the middle of the night. “My phone rang, and I didn’t recognize the number so I didn’t answer it for the first three times,” Conell shared. “Finally, I answered. It was the transplant team. They had a kidney for me. Especially after being sick for so long, it was like the sun shining in the middle of the night.”
**Thousands in Texas Await Kidney Transplants**
Texas Health and Human Services reports that about 10,000 Texans are currently awaiting a lifesaving transplant; nationwide, that number stands at 100,000. Of these, approximately 85% of patients are waiting for a kidney.
Now, Conell has turned her focus to advocacy. She has lobbied for legislation supporting kidney disease patients, transplant recipients, and donors. She also volunteers with the National Kidney Foundation, first in Illinois and now in Houston, to create greater awareness and support for patients. “I know they were very helpful to me throughout my process. We want to keep that going because so many people are suffering from kidney disease, need transplants, and just need the support,” Conell said.
She emphasizes the importance of early detection. “The more people we can reach on the front end, maybe we won’t have as many people needing dialysis or a transplant on the back end,” she added.
**Life After Transplant: Ongoing Challenges and Advocacy**
After her transplant, Conell began feeling better within a few days, but she’s open about the ongoing challenges that transplant recipients face. “We have to really make sure we are watching our blood pressure and our weight. Our meals and meat have to be cooked a certain way. Because of the immunosuppression, we’re more susceptible to illness,” she explained.
Conell describes herself as a “patient voice,” both through speaking engagements and by writing. She creates journals where she shares her favorite recipes, her personal story, and helpful tips for others. She encourages everyone not to be afraid to ask their doctor questions, to be aware of tests for kidney function, and to know the risk factors for kidney disease such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
“I know what I went through and what I continue to go through. If I can share that and help one person, that’s what it’s all about,” Conell said. “That’s why I’m still here—because I could’ve easily been one of those people still waiting.”
**Join the 2024 Houston Kidney Walk**
Conell will be using her voice and her story at the upcoming Houston Kidney Walk, happening November 9 at the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center (4501 Woodway Dr.). Sign-up for the walk is free, though organizers ask participants to fundraise to support vital programs and services.
The National Kidney Foundation, which organizes the walk, notes that all funds raised stay in Texas to support local kidney patients, outreach, and research.
Event details:
– Check-in: 8:00 a.m.
– Opening ceremony: 9:30 a.m.
– Walk begins: 10:00 a.m.
ABC13 is the media sponsor of the Houston Kidney Walk and will have its own team of walkers at the event.
For more information or to sign up, visit the National Kidney Foundation’s website. Every step you take supports awareness, hope, and life-saving assistance for those battling kidney disease.
https://abc13.com/post/houston-kidney-walk-returns-raise-awareness-fund-outreach-millions-americans-living-chronic-disease/18108650/