Like any young woman, Choo Peck See, 45, had dreamed of meeting the right person someday, settling down and starting a family of her own.  It was a dream come true when she was called up to receive a kidney transplant and have a shot at a normal life. But life had other plans. Read on:

Bittersweet Sixteen

Courage, as defined by the Oxford dictionary, is 'the ability to do something that frightens one' and 'strength in the face of pain or grief'. But how exactly does it show in everyday life?

To Mr Neo, every waking moment entails a conscious act of courage. Courage is taking the bus alone. Courage is looking past the curious eyes and indifference of others. Courage is taking every day in stride, despite being partially blind and dependent on dialysis for life.

It is estimated that about 2 lakh (200,000) new patients develop end-stage kidney failure every year in India. Dialysis can extend their life, but the treatment can be demanding and disruptive. Dr. Jyotsna Zope, a senior consultant Nephrologist gives us an overview about dialysis and advices ways to prevent kidney problems and diseases.

What is dialysis?

Worldwide 850 million people suffer from some form of kidney disease. Kidney diseases are also one of the leading causes of death worldwide, estimated to be 2.4 million deaths per year. Dr. Rajesh Kumar, a Kidney Specialist and Transplant Surgeon from Mumbai helps explain the misconceptions around kidney health.

PatientsEngage asked Dr. Rajesh Kumar about common beliefs on Kidney health:

Vasundhara Raghavan is the author of two books on chronic kidney diseases, one of which narrates the life of her son, Aditya, who has lived through dialysis and two transplants. In a detailed interview she talks about the harrowing twists and turns the family battled.

You have had a very close brush with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its devastating complications. Could you tell us how and when it started?