In 2012, my otherwise healthy, young (66) Grandma was taken ill. After multiple tests it was discovered that an infection had caused Vasculitis which resulted in her developing chronic Kidney disease. She is not a rare case, there are over three million people in the UK with it right now and there is no known cure. She began having dialysis in hospital a few days a week, this gradually increased to her requiring daily dialysis. 

Today she has end-stage kidney failure and has daily dialysis at home. All her care at home is provided by my superstar Grandad. Between them their lives consist of dialysis machine set up and clean down, hospital appointments, scans and medication monitoring, not a retirement anyone would envy. As my Grandma slowly deteriorates hospital stays are becoming more frequent as well. She has 5 grandchildren aged between 3-30 who are witnessing the effects of this disease first hand as the line dancing Grandma we once had now struggles to do the simplest of tasks. 

In May I will be completing a tandem skydive in order to raise money for Kidney research UK. All their research is funded solely by donations and I want to help a cause close to my heart. Currently 64,000 people are being treated for end-stage Kidney failure - that is a lot of families going through the same struggles. If jumping from a plane raises enough money or awareness to help even one person from having to see their loved one fade away then it will be worth it!

Thanks for reading.

Natasha x