AAKP member and dialysis patient John De La Fuente called the AAKP office to express his appreciation for our Nutritional Counter and other educational resources. John told AAKP, “Your booklet on nutrition saved my life.” He explained that no one else has anything like it, and he purchased copies in AAKP’s store to share with patients who may need help with nutrition, like he did, to get healthier or to get on the transplant list.
John lives in Pasadena, Texas, where he is a voice coach and violin instructor. His kidney journey began in 2017 when he was diagnosed with stage 3 kidney disease. “Everything that was anything that meant something to you has suddenly been ripped out from under your feet,” John says. Like many patients, he faced fear, frustration, and uncertainty, as his kidney failure was the result of unmanaged high blood pressure and uncontrolled blood sugar. In that moment of crisis, John found AAKP while searching for resources to help him learn how to live with kidney disease.

As a dialysis patient, John enjoys being a kidney advocate and supporting fellow patients. He shares that he has always been a happy, jovial person and credits his faith in God for his positive outlook on life. He enjoys spending time talking to patients, many of whom are depressed or have anxiety. Since he’s been blessed with positivity, he wants to share what he can with others. He shares, “This is not the end of your life but a new beginning. Don’t look at yourself as hopeless or a failure. It’s a journey, and you are needed in this world.” One of John’s favorite sayings is, “The dialysis machine does not keep you alive. You keep you alive.” He explains that the dialysis machine can only do so much, the patient needs to put in effort and be motivated to live their best life. He often talks to patients about their families, as that can be a big source of motivation.
Currently, John is scheduled to have a living donor kidney transplant this year. He plans to continue visiting dialysis centers post-transplant to help people who are struggling. Recently, John was chosen to be a voice for patients by his doctor in a video for U.S. Renal Care. He is excited to share that video resource with patients when it is ready.
For those living with kidney disease, AAKP offers a variety of educational resources, including our Nutrition Counter, which was instrumental in John’s journey. Many of these resources are available for free online, or in print through our online store.
AAKP Resource Webpage, including Nutrition Counter (free PDF version available!): https://bit.ly/AAKPbrochures
AAKP Online Store: https://aakp.org/shop/
This article was originally published in the Nov./Dec. 2024 aakpRENALIFE magazine.
