ALL ANTWERP: “Only after 22 years did they discover that I only have one kidney” (Antwerp)
Every day our reporter and photographer pick a casual passer-by off the street for a chat. Want everyone has a story. And certainly in Antwerp. Today: Abeli Uznadze (24).
“I need a new kidney. It was only after 22 years that they discovered that I only have one kidney. Before that I had a normal life. I went to university, went to work, was a project manager at an NGO until the analysis came and they told me: you still have three months and then you have to start dialysis. I was completely confused.”
“Since then I have been in hospitals all over Europe. In Germany, in Barcelona and now here at the UZA. I am from Tbilisi, Georgia. But that’s where it would never start for me to get a kidney transplant. I need higher quality care and they specialize in that at UZA. Their stats are perfect. I have arranged my insurance and now I have to wait until I am on the waiting list.”
“I try not to think too hard about what’s going on and try to envision a better future. Because now I have to undergo kidney dialysis every evening. This takes a lot of time, energy and effort. It’s a fight every day.”
“Should I manage to get a new kidney, that would be fantastic. That would change my life for the better. For me that is a challenge in my life. I’m also glad you don’t see it in me that I’m sick. So you see that you often don’t know what goes on in people’s minds when you see them for the first time.” evw