Tell Your Story: Enter RSN's 20th Annual Essay Contest!
We are pleased to announce the theme of our 20th Annual Essay Contest. This year it’s all about “Surviving Tough Times, sharing a strategy that helps cope with kidney disease.” The annual contest provides an opportunity for those who live with chronic kidney disease (CKD) to tell their story.
The essay contest is open to all people in the United States who have been diagnosed with kidney disease, on dialysis or who has had a kidney transplant. For submissions to be accepted, they must be typed and not exceed 750 words.
Lori Hartwell, founder and president of RSN, says, “Managing all the emotions that accompany kidney disease is daunting. Learning how to cope with its challenges is key to thriving despite this illness. We want to share kidney warrior strategies so that others may benefit from them. We look forward to reading all of the courageous stories.”
Contest winners will receive cash prizes: First Place, $500; Second Place, $300; and Third Place, $100. The submission deadline is August 10, 2022. Winners will be announced on the week of September 25, 2022, and winning essays will be featured in RSN’s publication KidneyTalk™ Magazine and on RSNHope.org.
All entries must be postmarked or received by 12:00 PM (PT) on August 10, 2022.
This year the theme, “Who is Your Healthcare Hero?” is all about the champions on your medical care team.
“Facing the reality of living with kidney disease is hard,” says Lori Hartwell, President and Founder of RSN, “and learning how to manage your care can be challenging. No one can do this alone. We received close to 100 essays from people across the United States writing about how their healthcare providers became their heroes while leading them on the journey of managing their health. We are grateful to everyone who took the time to share their personal story. It was tough to choose our winners, because in this time of the coronavirus, all healthcare providers are heroes.”
This year’s first place winner, Abigail Clary, says, “The RSN Essay Contest provides a much-needed platform for individuals with kidney disease to share their stories and connect through writing. It takes a team to fight kidney disease, and I love that this year’s topic provided the chance to honor the healthcare workers who do so much for us.”
Read and Listen to the Winning Essay of the 19th Annual Essay Contest:
Tina’s Gift, 1st Place Winner, 19th Annual Essay Contest
The pediatric lab services station at University of California, San Francisco Medical Center (UCSF) did not always have its own home. Sometimes it was...
Ode to Nurse Mary the Pirate, 2nd Place Winner, 19th Annual Essay Contest
When my kids were little, in a different place and time, we watched Veggie Tales every day. These days my kids have marooned me...
Dialysis Wonder Woman, 3rd Place Winning Essay (Tie) 19th Annual Essay Contest
I am not a perfect patient. When I first began dialysis, I missed treatments, and not always accidentally. As I progressed in my journey...
24K Magic, 3rd Place Winning Essay (Tie) 19th Annual Essay Contest
Tap, tap, tap! The doctor kept tapping on my forehead.
“Is it over yet?” I asked as he kept tapping.
“Don’t think about it,” he stated...
Tabitha Taught Me to Live, Not Just Survive, President’s Pick, 19th Annual Essay Contest
In March 2019, a door slammed shut. I found myself in the intensive care unit of my local hospital, dazed, in pain, and begging...
My Doctor, My Protector, Honorable Mention, 19th Annual Essay Contest
“Mom, will it hurt?” These were the first words that came out of my mouth the day after my kidneys completely stopped working. The day after I...
Head and Shoulders Above the Rest, Honorable Mention, 19th Annual Essay Contest
When I embarked upon my dialysis journey, I was not a willing participant. I had been diagnosed with stage 4 chronic kidney disease in...
Heroes Come in Many Different Forms, Honorable Mention, 19th Annual Essay Contest
When I was a child, I told myself that 32 was going to be a year in which something magical happened. I didn’t know...
Hornets and the Rose-colored Stethoscope, Honorable Mention, 19th Annual Essay Contest
… I couldn’t believe it. I was numb as I rose from the conference table and headed toward the inner sanctum of the dialysis...
Human, Honorable Mention, 19th Annual Essay Contest
Writing this essay is an exercise in gratitude. My kidneys failed 12 years ago so I have had all types of challenges. I know...
Dr. K, Honorable Mention, 19th Annual Essay Contest
April 5, 1998, is not a day that you’ll read about in history books many years from now. It is a day I will...
Brighter Skies, Honorable Mention, 19th Annual Essay Contest
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday evening, I pass through an empty lobby and walk directly to the white door. After firmly pressing the silver...
Lucky, Honorable Mention, 19th Annual Essay Contest
Wow, what a great theme to write an essay about. Unfortunately, with our overburdened healthcare professionals also suffering from the COVID-19 virus both mentally...
Hope, Honorable Mention, 19th Annual Essay Contest
To answer the question, “Who is your Healthcare Hero,” I had to take a sobering look at what the word ‘hero’ truly means to...
You Saved My Life, and For That I Am Grateful, 19th Annual Essay Contest
I was born and raised in the small town of Blythe, California. In recent years my life forever changed as I was sadly diagnosed...
The Day My Life Got Interesting, 19th Annual Essay Contest
“Is your blood pressure always this high?” asked Dr. Craven.
Every day since turning 35, headaches followed me to bed. There was no need for...
Nurse Judy, 19th Annual Essay Contest
Nurse Judy loves me and my mom, but we are not related to her. We did not know her until my kidney problem became...
Read Past Winning Essays:
19th Annual Essay Contest
18th Annual Essay Contest
17th Annual Essay Contest
16th Annual Essay Contest
15th Annual Essay Contest
14th Annual Essay Contest
13th Annual Essay Contest
12th Annual Essay Contest
11th Annual Essay Contest
10th Annual Essay Contest
9th Annual Essay Contest
8th Annual Essay Contest
7th Annual Essay Contest
6th Annual Essay Contest
5th Annual Essay Contest
4th Annual Essay Contest
3rd Annual Essay Contest
2nd Annual Essay Contest
1st Annual Essay Contest
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
Thanks to Our 2022 Corporate Partners
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