Mohamad Adha Bin Zainon
Chronic Kidney Disease
Malaysia

If you asked me five years ago, I would have told you my life was over.

At 28, I was diagnosed with kidney failure. One day I was working, providing for my family, living a normal life — the next, I was hooked up to a dialysis machine, counting hospital visits, and watching my world shrink. I didn’t just lose my health; I lost my confidence, my independence, and my peace of mind.

“I felt trapped… angry… helpless. There were days I didn’t even recognize myself anymore.”

But something inside me refused to give up. I realized — I am not just a patient. I am a person with a choice.

I chose to fight. I started learning everything I could about my illness. I stayed up late reading, watching videos, asking questions that I didn’t even know how to ask before. I made a promise to myself — I will not be a silent patient. I will understand my disease, and I will take control of my life.

“If you don’t understand your own body, how can you fight for your life?” I always tell other patients now.  In 2024, after years of struggle, I was blessed with a second chance — a kidney transplant. It changed everything. For the first time in years, I could breathe without machines, sleep without fear, and dream of the future again.

But my story didn’t end there. I knew too many people out there felt the same pain I had lived through. Too many were still suffering in silence. That’s when I decided to become their voice.  Today, I am one of the admins of the Kidney Warrior WhatsApp Group, a family of more than 240 patients from across Malaysia. It’s more than just a group — it’s a place where we remind each other every single day: you are not alone, your voice matters, and your life still has meaning.

“I see myself in every new patient who joins. And I remind them — we are stronger than we think.”

I also became part of VoKAL, the Voice-out Kidney Alliance under the National Kidney Foundation of Malaysia (NKF). Through VoKAL, I get to sit at the table, raise real patient voices, and push for changes — from better healthcare access to stronger organ donation awareness. But none of this would be possible without my wife. She gave up her career to care for me full-time. She stood by me when I couldn’t stand on my own. “Without her, I wouldn’t have survived those dark days,” I say, and I mean it with all my heart.  If you’re reading this — whether you’re healthy, a patient, or a caregiver — I have something important to say:

“Don’t wait for illness to teach you about your health. Start now — go for screenings, protect your kidneys, understand your body. And if you are healthy, think about becoming an organ donor. You might be someone’s miracle — just like I was lucky to receive mine.”  I learned that resilience isn’t about pretending to be strong — it’s about standing back up when life knocks you down. And today, I stand tall — not just for myself, but for every kidney warrior who still needs a reason to hope.