Renal Support Network

RSN’s Annual Patient Essay Contest provides an outstanding opportunity for people who have chronic kidney disease, including people on dialysis and kidney transplant recipients, to make a valuable contribution to society by expressing their ideas, views, and most importantly, hope.The theme of this year’s essay contest is “Thriving, No Matter What I Can or Can’t Eat: A Happy Food Experience on the Kidney Diet.” Smart food choices are a key element of living with a chronic illness, and writers enthusiastically responded to the theme by sharing their interesting food anecdotes as well as their discoveries for improving their health, well-being, and daily lifestyles. Entrants needed to meet only one criteria — to have been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease.

Thank you to everyone who entered RSN’s 18th annual essay contest! Read the Press Release.

Read and Listen to the Winning Essay of the 18^th Annual Essay Contest:

Here is what the winners had to say about their experience writing their essays:

“My experience with this contest has been great. Writing an essay about my diagnosis was really cathartic for me. Being able to share my story with others is an honor. I am very open about my diagnosis and limitations with everyone. It is a part of who I am but it does NOT define who I am.”–Kristin Brunstein, 1^st Place Winner, 18^th Annual Essay Contest

“My experience doing the renal essay has been eye opening for me. I now know that I would really like to inform people on how to just live being on dialysis.”–Makeisha West, 3^rd Place Winner 18^th Annual Essay Contest

“Actually I thought it would be tough to write an essay after being away from academics for so many years.  But it really was so much easier writing about a topic I knew very well.  My social worker Kattie Holland brought this contest to my attention and I thought this would be the perfect vehicle to bring my story to others.”–Joseph Hardison, 4^th Place Winner, 18^th Annual Essay Contest

“I love to write and jumped at the chance to share the dietary challenges of living with CKD and to brag on my clinic dietician, Shannon!”–Mike Gothard, President’s Pick, 18^th Annual Essay Contest

“I love this contest! It is such a wonderful way to give a voice to kidney patients and such a great creative outlet. This year’s theme was very fun to write on, as the kidney diet has been one of my biggest struggles (and triumphs) as a patient.”–Joy Araujo, Honorable Mention, 18^th Annual Essay Contest

“The subject of this essay contest piqued my interest because I had had a very challenging time making peace with food on the renal diet, after having spent years making peace with food, in general, due to a lifelong eating disorder.”–Sheri Sinykin, Honorable Mention, 18^th Annual Essay Contest

“This essay has prompted me to stay on course and share as often as possible my method of motivational moderation.”– Rev. Marjie Dozier, Honorable Mention, 18^th Annual Essay Contest

“I really enjoyed doing this Essay and the many challenges I have faced . My dialysis dictionary is how i digest everyday livings and the agenda to maintaining a healthy environment especially in today new Bubble World.”– John Burris, Honorable Mention, 18^th Annual Essay Contest

“I have so enjoyed reading the entries from prior years with the great information and encouragement they gave me that I decided to enter this years contest hoping my experiences also would be helpful to other kidney patient’s.”– Debra Dansie Anderson, Honorable Mention, 18^th Annual Essay Contest

“I enjoyed the opportunity to write for the contest.  I love writing, so being able to join that skill with something personal to me such as my recovery journey was a very healing and enjoyable task; for me as well as my wife.”– Josh Mackenstein, Honorable Mention, 18^th Annual Essay Contest

“I was invited to submit my essay by dialysis staff, and my goal was to honestly express my own truths about my renal diet, hoping that some readers might find some common ground with my struggles.”–David Wills, Honorable Mention, 18^th Annual Essay Contest

“Pain doesn’t make one suffer, it makes one stronger. It is the inability of not knowing how long the pain will last that makes one truly suffer.”–Rev. Marjie Dozier, Honorable Mention, 18^th Annual Essay Contest

“Food is always a favorite topic,” says Lori Hartwell, President and Founder of RSN, “But when you have kidney disease your diet can be challenging. We have a following of amazing writers, and they were up to the task of delivering thought-provoking, insightful, and often humorous accounts of their dietary journeys. RSN has a panel of judges to help us determine the essay winners. It was a tough choice this year. We received over 100 essays from across the United States and we are grateful to everyone who took the time to share a personal story. I read each essay with pride, tears, and admiration for the courage of my peers. In addition to this year’s essay winners, we wanted to acknowledge 10 outstanding essays with honorable mentions. We are asking each essay winner to record their story. And, to have a broader reach of inspiration and hope, RSN will have them translated into Spanish.”

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

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