For Anderson County resident Howard Chapman, the wait for a kidney transplant has been long, heavy, and deeply personal. Like many Tennesseans facing chronic kidney disease, Howard has spent years balancing hope with the daily discipline required to stay alive. He has been on dialysis for four years and is still waiting for the call that could change everything.
“I am hoping and praying so bad to get a kidney,” he says.
Being considered for a kidney transplant requires patients to follow a detailed set of medical guidelines, including a renal-friendly diet that can feel restrictive and emotionally draining. Howard admits that it has been one of the most difficult adjustments.
“I love sweets. I love everything I am not supposed to have. It’s a big challenge for me. I have to take tablets before I eat anything.”
Still, he remains disciplined. He never misses a treatment and follows every medical requirement with determination. “I just got put on the transplant list and had six procedures done. You have to take a class where they teach you all that is required, like surgeries and procedures. I did blood work and had an EKG.”
Howard’s kidney issues began gradually. “I was seeing a kidney doctor. He was helping me when my kidneys were getting worse. I finally had to get surgery. Two years later is when I got put on dialysis.”
Howard grew up in Anderson County, surrounded by family spread across the country. Travel used to be enjoyable, something that kept him connected to the people he loves. Chronic kidney disease changed that.
“The kidney thing has really messed things up. It’s caused major issues for me. The hardest thing about CKD… I used to travel a lot. Now I can only travel over the weekend.”
A typical day for Howard revolves around managing exhaustion and treatment.
“I become so exhausted. I take two or three hour naps to recover. Then I feel a little better, but my whole day is around dialysis. I don’t get a lot accomplished. That is the hardest part, how much it drains me.”
When asked what he looks forward to at the dialysis clinic, Howard answers honestly,
“To get home.”
He spends four hours on the dialysis machine, leaving him wiped out. “I’m exhausted when I wake up. Thank God I am able to drive myself home.”
For a time, he relied on public transit through ETHRA, but the experience was inconsistent and stressful.
“I was getting angry with them not getting here on time. They really need a better system. I know they can’t help themselves, but it is not dependable. Companies’ budgets are so tight, it’s not the staff’s fault.”
Driving himself has become a point of freedom. “I drive myself and it’s my favorite thing. I get here at 6:30 and leave around 11.”
Howard hopes people understand just how serious kidney disease is and how deeply it reshapes a person’s life.
“I always tell everybody, ‘Please take care of your kidneys and your health. You do not want to be in the position I’m in. Don’t ever get kidney disease, it will change your whole life.’”
The disease has touched his life beyond his own diagnosis. “My pastor had kidney disease, and he passed away from it a couple years ago. We went to college together. It’s real personal to me.”
One thing that has helped Howard stay on track is the East Tennessee Kidney Foundation’s travel reimbursement program which provides financial support to help patients get to and from dialysis.
“It’s been a big help,” Howard says.
He speaks with deep appreciation for the Foundation’s support of rural patients. “I really appreciate what they do because it is so important to me, especially in this area. In the country, we don’t make a lot of money. You really have to budget for everything.”
Not being able to work due to treatment has been a difficult shift. “I used to work a lot, and not having that income makes a big difference. The check you give us is so important.”
Despite exhaustion, strict routines, limited travel, and the long wait ahead, Howard continues to hold onto hope and the disciplined routines that keep him on the transplant list.
He dreams of the day he receives the call that a kidney is ready. Until then, he lives each day with resilience, patience, and a quiet determination to keep going.
If you are interested in supporting the East Tennessee Kidney Foundation, please visit etkidney.org. To become a registered organ donor, visit donatelifetn.org.