This article is the final part of Fiona’s story. If you are new to her journey, you may wish to start with Can Dialysis Patients Travel? What Fiona’s Story Teaches Us About Living Life on Dialysis and Travel While on Dialysis: Fiona’s Journey from Uncertainty to Confidence before reading on.

For many people, living on dialysis is not simply about treatment sessions, medications, or managing a medical condition.

It is about learning how to live with uncertainty.

For some, that uncertainty centres around the transplant waiting list and the hope that one day the phone will ring with life-changing news.

Fiona understands that feeling all too well.

After being diagnosed with kidney disease during pregnancy, spending years managing declining kidney function, starting dialysis, and eventually receiving a kidney transplant from a close friend, she experienced a period of freedom she once thought might never be possible. She learned to swim, became involved in triathlon, qualified as a triathlon coach, and embraced challenges that seemed unimaginable during the years when her health was deteriorating.

But by 2024, her transplant had reached the end of its lifespan.

Suddenly, Fiona found herself back on dialysis and facing something she never expected to revisit: the kidney transplant waiting list.

This is the final chapter of Fiona’s story.

And it may be the most powerful.

Life After Transplant Failure

When people talk about kidney transplantation, the focus is often on the operation itself.

What is discussed less often is life after transplant failure.

For Fiona, the transition was not immediate.

Her transplant function gradually declined before she eventually returned to dialysis. At the same time, she had to come to terms with the reality that she would once again be waiting for a kidney transplant.

It was not simply a medical adjustment.

It was an emotional one too.

Many people living with kidney failure describe feeling as though they are moving backwards when they return to dialysis after a transplant.

Fiona’s experience was different.

While she was disappointed, she also recognised that she had already overcome significant challenges before.

That perspective would become increasingly important as she joined the transplant list once again.

When Waiting Starts to Shape Your Life

Most people assume that a transplant waiting list is simply a period of time.

A few months.

A year.

Perhaps longer.

What they often do not see is how waiting can quietly begin to influence every decision you make.

Plans become conditional.

Goals get postponed.

Life starts revolving around “when.”

“I’ll do that when I get my transplant.”

“I’ll book that trip when things are more certain.”

“I’ll start that next year.”

For many people living on dialysis, this becomes an exhausting way to live.

The future begins to feel permanently out of reach.

The Phone Call That Never Brought Good News

One of the most emotional moments Fiona shared involved a phone call she received on her birthday.

Because she is part of a kidney-sharing programme, each matching round brings the possibility that a donor match may finally be found.

When the phone rang, she hoped it might be good news.

Instead, she learned that there was no match.

Not this time.

For anyone on a waiting transplant list, moments like these can be incredibly difficult.

Hope and disappointment often arrive together.

Every phone call has potential.

Every update carries emotion.

And every setback can feel deeply personal.

Refusing to Stay in the Waiting Room of Life

Perhaps the most memorable moment in Fiona’s interview came when she spoke about a conversation with one of her coaching clients.

The client said:

“I feel like I’m living in the waiting room of my life.”

The phrase immediately resonated with her.

Because she realised she felt exactly the same way.

For a while, her life had started revolving around the next phone call, the next matching round, and the uncertainty of the kidney transplant waiting list.

Then she made a decision.

She was no longer willing to stay in the waiting room.

Living on Dialysis Means Living Now

One of the biggest lessons from Fiona’s story is that living on dialysis does not mean putting life on hold.

The waiting remained.

The uncertainty remained.

But she chose to keep moving forward anyway.

She enrolled in a master’s degree.

She decided to pursue another one.

She worked towards gaining her motorbike licence.

She continued setting goals that had nothing to do with hospitals, blood tests, or transplant appointments.

Those choices did not remove the challenges of dialysis.

But they helped ensure that her dialysis life was about more than simply waiting.

Fiona’s determination reflects something many patients eventually discover: they are capable of far more than they initially believe. Our article Dialysis Patient Confidence: Why Many People Underestimate What They Can Still Do explores how confidence can grow even while living with kidney disease.

Life on Dialysis Is Still Life

One of the themes running through all three parts of Fiona’s story is that kidney disease does not have to define every aspect of your future.

In the previous articles we explored how travel and new experiences can remain possible despite treatment. Moreover, we looked at how planning helped her regain confidence and a sense of control.

This final chapter brings those lessons together.

The Challenges People Often Don’t See

One aspect of kidney disease that Fiona spoke about openly was how difficult it can be when other people cannot see what you are going through.

For much of her journey, she looked healthy on the outside. Yet behind the scenes, she was dealing with exhaustion, declining kidney function, and the daily reality of living with a chronic condition.

Like many people living with kidney failure, she found that fatigue was often one of the hardest symptoms to explain. Friends, colleagues, and even family members sometimes struggled to understand why she could not always do the things she wanted to do.

This is something many people experience as part of their dialysis lifestyle. Because kidney disease is often an invisible illness, others may not fully appreciate the physical and emotional energy required simply to get through an ordinary day.

For Fiona, learning to accept her limitations while continuing to focus on what she could do became an important part of protecting her wellbeing.

Strong dialysis patient support, whether from family, friends, healthcare professionals, or other patients, can make a significant difference during these periods.

Emotional wellbeing is just as important as physical health. Our article Dialysis Patient Mental Health: How to Feel More Supported and Confident explores practical ways patients can build confidence and feel more supported throughout their journey.

Because whether someone is receiving in-centre treatment or managing home dialysis, the challenge is often the same.

How do you continue living while waiting for life to change?

For Fiona, the answer was surprisingly simple.

Keep making plans.

Keep learning.

Keep moving forward.

Small Steps Still Count

Many people believe progress only happens when something major changes.

A transplant.

A new treatment.

A significant milestone.

But Fiona’s story suggests otherwise. Sometimes progress is much smaller.

Starting a course.

Booking a future trip.

Learning a new skill.

Making plans with family.

Even considering travel while on dialysis can be a powerful reminder that the future still exists beyond treatment.

If travelling is one of your goals, you may find our guide to Travelling Abroad on Dialysis: A Step-by-Step Guide helpful.

Likewise, our article Holiday Dialysis: Everything You Need to Know to Travel Safely and with Confidence explains how many patients successfully continue travelling while receiving treatment.

Listen to Fiona’s Full Story

This article explores the final chapter of Fiona’s journey, but there is much more to her story.

In the full podcast episode, she shares her experiences of kidney disease, dialysis, transplantation, family life, chronic illness, and what it means to keep moving forward despite uncertainty.

▶ Listen to Fiona’s full story on Spotify below.

Conclusion

For many people, living on dialysis means learning to live alongside uncertainty.

The transplant waiting list can be emotionally exhausting.

Waiting for a kidney transplant can feel frustrating, unpredictable, and at times overwhelming.

But Fiona’s story reminds us that life does not need to stop while you wait.

Throughout this three-part series, she has shown that kidney disease, dialysis, transplant failure, and the kidney transplant waiting list do not have to define what is possible.

Plans can still be made.

Goals can still be pursued.

New experiences can still happen.

Because while the waiting may be unavoidable, life is still happening in the meantime.

At bookdialysis.com, we believe kidney disease should never be the reason you stop making plans for the future. Whether you are living on dialysis, exploring travel opportunities or waiting for a kidney transplant, support is available every step of the way.