“There is a wonderful world of travel out there just waiting for you. Go for it!”
This is Steven’s story from the USA, shared with us in his own words.
Travel had been part of Steven’s life since his teenage years, so when he unexpectedly started dialysis, he believed that chapter of his life had come to an end. For a year, he stayed home while his friends continued exploring the world.
Then, one simple question from his nephrologist changed his perspective: “So when are you going to go on vacation?”
Steven’s story is about rediscovering the freedom to travel and challenging the belief that life on dialysis means staying close to home.
“Four years ago as I was approaching my 66th birthday, my physician started monitoring my kidney function. I was told to follow a strict renal diet. Things were going okay, but 2 years later I contracted listeria, a serious food borne disease, which during a 2 week stay in the hospital damaged my kidneys further to the extent that I was immediately placed on dialysis and I continue taking it today.
My whole world fell apart because as an avid world traveler since my teens, I was shell-shocked. I was in total disbelief because of the fact that I believed my traveling days were over. I continued like this for a year. I suffered depressive episodes and my friends who were also world travelers didn’t know how to console me. They also thought that dialysis patients could not take vacations, They continued traveling the world and I sat home
Until one day during my routine visit my nephrologist asked me…” So when are you going to go on vacation?” ..I looked at him as if he were crazy and he continued speaking. He told me quite a few of his patients on dialysis traveled quite often. So I started searching on my computer and making phone calls inquiring about traveling to one of my most frequent destinations to which I was accustomed to visiting at least 3 times a year, namely, Cartagena, Colombia where I had many friends., and lo and behold, there was a well-known dialysis center located only 10 minutes away from my usual hotel. One of the hotel managers visited the site for me in July,2025 and inquired if they would accept an international visitor such as myself. Sure enough the social worker told her they would gladly welcome me as it was not at all an unusual request. She relayed the information to me and within a few days the social worked from my dialysis center contacted the social worker from the center in Cartagena and the process started. And the rest is history. It was a successful and wonderful 2 week vacation. I returned happy and healthy.
Three months later, in October of this year, 2025, my partner and I discovered that our second favorite destination, Torremolinos, Malaga, also offered dialysis, a 5 minute taxi ride from our usual hotel. They also accepted international dialysis patients. We booked it quite easily and we returned home after a fantastic 2 week vacation.
We are currently starting the process of returning to Cartagena in late January, 2026 for another 2 week visit.. Our friends are eagerly awaiting our return.
It should be noted that dialysis is not a killer. It is not the end of the world. Many people believe incorrectly that a dialysis patient cannot go anywhere and must be locked into their dialysis site. I have disproved that common belief.
I hope my experience has given dialysis patients inspiration to go forward and not remain at home and pity themselves. Always keep in mind that there is a wonderful world of travel out there just waiting for you. Go for it!”
