10/24/2026
š ONE YEAR ON DIALYSIS A YEAR THAT CHANGED MY LIFE FOREVER š
One year ago, my life changed in ways I never could have imagined.I went from always being on the move working hard, chasing dreams, cooking BBQ, and providing for my family to facing a battle I never saw coming.Kidney failure. End stage renal disease. Dialysis.
As a pitmaster, hard work and long hours were part of who I was. I was used to being the one who got things done. Then suddenly, my body couldnāt keep up.
Three days a week, four hours at a time, my life revolves around a dialysis machine. Iāve faced extreme fatigue, dangerously low blood pressure, sleepless nights, and days when even simple tasks feel impossible.The emotional toll can be just as difficult: losing independence, worrying about finances and the future, and feeling like the world is moving forward while my life is on hold. Iāve been angry, scared, and forced to mourn the life I used to have while learning how to live the life I have now.
But this year has also taught me that strength isnāt always about how much you can work or accomplish. Sometimes itās simply getting up, going to dialysis, and doing it again when youāre exhausted.Iāve learned that asking for help doesnāt make me weak, slowing down doesnāt mean Iāve given up, and my worth as a husband, father, and man isnāt measured by a paycheck or productivity.
My family has seen the hardest parts of this journey, but theyāve also given me a reason to keep fighting. I want more time with my wife and daughters to celebrate their milestones, make memories, and enjoy the moments I once took for granted.
And yes, I still have dreams.I still love BBQ. I still have goals, and Iām not ready to close that chapter of my life.Iām continuing to wait for a kidney transplant a call that could bring more freedom, energy, and opportunity. I know a transplant isnāt a cure and that challenges will remain, but it represents hope and a chance to reclaim some of what kidney disease has taken.
My faith has been tested, but I still believe my life has purpose and that my story isnāt finished.
If thereās one thing I want people to understand, itās this:
You never truly know what someone else is fighting.
Someone can smile, laugh, and look fine while carrying a battle that affects nearly every part of their life. Be kind. Be patient. Appreciate your health. Hug the people you love, and donāt assume there will always be tomorrow.I wouldnāt wish kidney failure on anyone. This journey has been painful and has taken things from me that I may never get back. But it has also shown me how much fight I have inside me.Iām not stronger because kidney disease happened to me. Iām stronger because Iāve refused to let it defeat me.To my family, friends, and everyone who has prayed for me, checked on me, encouraged me, or supported me this past year: thank you. Your love means more than youāll ever know.
I donāt know what the next year holds. Hopefully, a new kidney, better days, and more time doing the things I love.But whatever comes next, I know this:Iām still a husband. Iām still a father. Iām still a pitmaster. Iām still the King of Mesquite. And Iām still me.Kidney failure may have changed my life, but it hasnāt taken away my heart, dreams, or determination.One year later, Iām still standing. Still fighting. Still hoping. And still believing my best days are ahead of me.
š MESQUITE STRONG. KIDNEY WARRIOR. MY STORY ISNāT OVER. š
