RSN Announces the 22nd Annual Essay Contest Winners!

This year the theme is “Which film, television series, book, or song provides you with comfort?”

The theme for this year, “Which film, television series, book, or song provides you with comfort?”, inspired people living with kidney disease to share their personal stories. The contest offered a platform for writers to highlight how their favorite media has served as a source of solace and strength while living with kidney disease. The contest is open to anyone in the United States who has been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease.

Lori Hartwell, Founder and President of the Renal Support Network, expressed her gratitude to the participants for sharing their personal stories. She remarked, “This year’s theme focused on addressing one of the most common challenges faced by people living with kidney disease: anxiety and depression. I often struggle with what I call the ‘committee in my head,’ which creates all kinds of negative scenarios when I’m trying to enjoy the moment. Over time, I’ve learned to quiet that voice. One way I do this is by immersing myself in uplifting activities—whether it’s listening to good music, reading a great book, or watching a funny movie or TV show. These activities help me take a deep breath, refocus, and stay present. Life is too short to let that internal committee rob you of joy.”

Read Full Press Release

Read and Listen to the Winning Essay of the 22nd Annual Essay Contest:

The top five winning essays will also available to read in Spanish.

I Love Lucy, 1st Place, RSN’s 22nd Annual Essay Contest

In the quiet hours of the night, when the world outside slept, I found solace in the familiar rhythms of my home dialysis routine....

From Comic Books to Coping, 2nd Place, RSN’s 22nd Annual Essay Contest

Growing up, my dad and his brothers all read comic books. This was in the ’70s and ’80s when comics were not seen as...

Turning Music into Triumphs, 3rd Place, RSN’s 22nd Annual Essay Contest

As far back as I can remember, music has been a huge part of my life. Both my mom and dad loved music. My...

Prescribed by Grey’s, 4th Place, RSN’s 22nd Annual Essay Contest

It's hard to narrow down what I consider to be my favorite anything, but there is one show that has helped me cope with...

Matlock Is My Inspiration, President’s Pick, RSN’s 22nd Annual Essay Contest

I love the television series titled "Matlock." In the show, Attorney Ben Matlock is sagacious to say the least. He is so down-to-earth on...

Are You Full?, Honorable Mention, RSN’s 22nd Annual Essay Contest

“Ni chi bao le ma?” (pronounced knee zhe bao leh mah) in Chinese translates to “Are you full?” and loosely means “How are you?”...

Heroes, Zombies, and Kidneys, Oh My!, Honorable Mention, RSN’s 22nd Annual Essay Contest

There were two. First was My Hero Academia. There could, and would, be days or even months between watching episodes, but it’s always been...

Navigating Through My Comfort, Honorable Mention, RSN’s 22nd Annual Essay Contest

What is comfort? How does an eight-year-old find comfort? When the only thing she saw were doctors trying to figure out what she had....

Courage, Strength, and Music, Honorable Mention, RSN’s 22nd Annual Essay Contest

Living with kidney disease is not a walk in the park, whether it is developed later in life, or was diagnosed at birth such...

So Many Possibilities, Honorable Mention, RSN’s 22nd Annual Essay Contest

I sit in my dialysis chair, plumbed into the Slurpee machine as it purifies my black cherry syrup, in renal failure for a few...

A Community of We, Honorable Mention, RSN’s 22nd Annual Essay Contest

Research has long shown that music (both instrumental and worded) is processed in a different part of our brain than simple speech. How often...

Back to the Sea, Honorable Mention, RSN’s 22nd Annual Essay Contest

Remember the very first time you stepped into the sea? For me it was 1975. I was eleven years old and it was life...

The Songs of Dialysis, Honorable Mention, RSN’s 22nd Annual Essay Contest

I have end-stage renal disease, and I have been on dialysis for over ten years. There’s so much to think about and keep track...

A Lifetime as One, Honorable Mention, RSN’s 22nd Annual Essay Contest

“Come let me love you, let me give my life to you” is in the opening verse to John Denver’s “Annie’s Song.” Little did...

Sixty-six Years and Counting, Honorable Mention, RSN’s 22nd Annual Essay Contest

Comfort. Being comfortable. Finding solace from pain. A snippet from a song, a line from a movie, a character from a television series, an idea...

A Yankee Doodle Viewer, Honorable Mention, RSN’s 22nd Annual Essay Contest

“Three hours ago, this man was in a battle. Two hours ago, we operated on him. He's got a 50-50 chance. We win some,...

Lessons from an Aardvark, Honorable Mention, RSN’s 22nd Annual Essay Contest

At the age of five, I went through daily life in terms of clock hours. The chimes from the grandfather clock in the living...

Dance with My Father Again, Honorable Mention, RSN’s 22nd Annual Essay Contest

My father was my first love. He was a tall, handsome, strong, Bible-toting man who loved his wife and family. Dad worked hard as...

To the Future, Honorable Mention, RSN’s 22nd Annual Essay Contest

“Your future hasn’t been written yet. No one’s has. Your future is whatever you make it, so make it a good one.” The wise words...

The 22nd Annual Essay Contest is Closed for Submissions. Winners will be announced in September 2024.

Stay tuned for the winner of the 22nd Annual Essay Contest!

This year the theme is “Which film, television series, book, or song provides you with comfort?”

RSN is thrilled to unveil the theme for its 22^nd annual essay contest. This year, we invite people who have kidney disease to share their personal story about how a cherished form of entertainment media aids in your journey of navigating life with kidney disease. We encourage writers to explore the question: “Which film, television series, book, or song provides you with comfort?”

The contest is open to all people in the United States who have been diagnosed with kidney disease, have had a kidney transplant, or are on dialysis.

For submissions to be accepted, they must be typed and not exceed 750 words.

Lori Hartwell, RSN’s founder and president, says: “Numerous TV shows, books, and music have been instrumental in assisting me during challenging times by helping me navigate through my emotions. I eagerly anticipate hearing the stories that others have to share.”

Contest winners will receive cash prizes: First Place, $500; Second Place, $300; and Third Place, $100. The submission deadline is August 10, 2024. Winners will be announced on the week of September 23, 2024, and winning essays will be featured in RSN’s publication KidneyTalk™ Magazine and on RSNHope.org.

Read Full Press Release

All entries must be postmarked or received by 12:00 PM (PT) on August 13, 2024.

HOW TO ENTER THE CONTEST

DOWNLOAD/POST FLYER AT YOUR CLINIC

Read and Listen to the Winning Essay of the 21^st Annual Essay Contest:

The top five winning essays are also available to read in Spanish.

Landscaping, Gardening, and Flowers Everywhere, 1st Place Winning Essay, 21st Annual Essay Contest

Unimaginable fatigue, like cotton candy melting and wilting on a hot day, slows the mind and body; sleep becomes an escape, but the body...

A Dash of Creativity, 2nd Place Winning Essay, 21st Annual Essay Contest

For the fifth time that day, mired in hopelessness, I stood in front of my refrigerator and stared at its contents. I wanted my...

Mind Games, 3rd Place Winning Essay, 21st Annual Essay Contest

I am a baker. I usually work out of the left side of my brain. I’m very methodical and list oriented. I do everything...

Flip the Script, 4th Place Winning Essay, 21st Annual Essay Contest

Let’s flip the script: My kidney disease supports my creativity. We must begin with the simplest fact: In my life, I have people who...

Birdhouse Blessings, President’s Pick, 21st Annual Essay Contest

In 2022, I got very sick, and my mom told me I almost died. I spent five months in the hospital at UCLA Mattel...

Jump In! Honorable Mention, 21st Annual Essay Contest

I am a photographer. I photograph along the Crystal Coast, a few steps from the sea. I capture moments in time others will want...

Did you eat yet?, Honorable Mention, 21st Annual Essay Contest

“Did you eat yet?” or “Are you hungry yet?” are two phrases I hear frequently since I was a child. Is cooking a creative...

Happy Pens, Honorable Mention, 21st Annual Essay Contest

Smorgasbord: A wide variety of something. Happy Pens: An oasis in the ever-changing smorgasbord of medical opinions. I am more than my diagnosis. Regarding my...

Coping by the Layers, Honorable Mention, 21st Annual Essay Contest

I would not have considered myself to be an artist as a child. Toddlerhood was marked by hastily scribbled drawings. Childhood into the preteen...

A Tale of Tasty Triumphs, Honorable Mention, 21st Annual Essay Contest

I dream of food. In the way a painter stares at a blank canvas and sees a sunset or perhaps a portrait of dogs...

The Power of Three, Honorable Mention, 21st Annual Essay Contest

They say good things come in threes. There is red, white, and blue in our nation’s flag. “Goldilocks and The Three Bears” is a...

Enjoy the Moments, Honorable Mention, 21st Annual Essay Contest

I would have a hard time painting a stick-figure portrait, even by number. I would only successfully be able to put the clay in...

A Novel Approach, Honorable Mention, 21st Annual Essay Contest

Being on dialysis is like having a part-time job that doesn’t pay. So what I’ve done is use my treatment time in ways that...

The Lime Green Blanket, Honorable Mention, 21st Annual Essay Contest

The first time I was wheeled into the dialysis room I was met with a sea of lime green blankets covering a sea of...

O, Yes You Can(e)!, Honorable Mention, 21st Annual Essay Contest

I am a registered nurse by profession. My resume lists gardening and singing as my hobbies. Little did I know when I composed my...

A Recipe for Happiness, Honorable Mention, 21st Annual Essay Contest

Living with kidney disease can present numerous challenges, both physical and emotional. However, for me, creativity has played a significant role in helping me...

Tokens of Love, Honorable Mention, 21st Annual Essay Contest

Being one of twelve children, there was never any extra money for flowers or birthday cards. But my mom always baked each of us...

Read and Listen to the Winning Essay of the 20^th Annual Essay Contest:

The theme of 20th annual essay contest was “Surviving Tough Times, sharing a strategy that helps cope with kidney disease.” — inspired people who have kidney disease to share their experiences and how they learned to cope with the illness. The contest is open to anyone in the United States who has been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease.

We congratulate our 1ST – 4TH place winners, 2 President’s Picks, and 12 Honorable Mentions who shared their strategies to survive and thrive with this illness.

“It’s hard for me to believe that it’s been 20 years since we hosted the first essay contest,” says Lori Hartwell, President and Founder of RSN. “Every year I have the privilege of reading my peers’ amazing stories. These stories are the fuel that drives hope for people who have kidney disease. Seeing my peers overcome such incredible adversity makes me determined to persevere. Don’t miss this opportunity to read their words of wisdom.”

Read Past Winning Essays:

Get the Essay Collection Book

RSN’s book of essays “Hope, Inspiration & Wisdom: A Treasury of Thoughts on Coping with Kidney Disease” is available for purchase.
Order the Printed Book for $14.95 or the Kindle Book for $6.99