Brad is a member of Health Consumers NSW and an outstanding patient advocate and health consumer representative who is happy to tell his story, as well as listen to others to help tell theirs.
At the age of five, Brad was diagnosed with on-set Type 1 Diabetes. He managed – played sports, moved to Batemans Bay, became a butcher, married, and had a child. But in 1996, his health took a turn for the worse. Kidney disease and eye troubles started catching up with him.
What were the hardest parts of your journey?
Between 2000 and 2007, life was not how I anticipated it would be. And it certainly wasn’t what I envisaged for my family – my wonderful wife Lorae and my son Trent and my brothers and parents – to also be a part of.
Watching my family watch me was the hardest part.
Dialysis is not a cure for renal failure, Dialysis is a treatment, some people survive on Dialysis for many years. Some people are fortunate to receive a kidney transplant. Some people choose not to have Dialysis…
But what always stood out for me was how lucky I am to have had the love of, and support from, Lorae, Trent, mum, dad, my brothers and family. A shout out also to all my friends and mates for keeping in regular contact – I really appreciate it!
To my double transplant donor and their family – thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Read the full interview with Brad here.
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