Kidney disease is often described as a lifelong journey—one filled with twists, setbacks, victories, and unimaginable resilience. For Anthony Tuggle, the journey began with a routine doctor visit that led to a life-changing diagnosis. What followed was a story of survival, second chances, and a powerful reminder that sometimes, even our most difficult detours can lead to unexpected blessings.
In this expanded account of Anthony’s story—originally published by the National Kidney Foundation—we unpack the physical, emotional, and spiritual layers of living through kidney failure, transplant, rejection, and rediscovery.
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A Wake-Up Call
In his late 20s, Anthony showed up at the doctor’s office with what he thought were common flu symptoms. Instead, his test results revealed advanced kidney failure. The next thing he knew, he was being rushed to surgery for emergency dialysis.
“I had no idea what was happening,” he says. “Nobody ever told me that high blood pressure, which I was diagnosed with in my teens, could lead to kidney failure.”
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Like many Black Americans, Anthony was not made aware of the relationship between hypertension and kidney health—a missed opportunity in his early medical care. This experience echoes the broader health disparities faced by Black patients, who are three to four times more likely to develop kidney failure than white Americans, largely due to unequal access to preventive care, education, and culturally competent providers.
He would spend the next 15 months undergoing grueling in-center hemodialysis—three times a week, three to four hours each session. It was draining, physically and emotionally. But Anthony refused to be defined by the machine. He leaned on his faith, family, and friends. He prayed. He adjusted. He pushed through.
The First Transplant: A Second Chance
In 1999, Anthony got the call that changed everything: a deceased donor kidney was available in Atlanta—on his birthday, no less.
“I was in Kansas City at the time. I had to get on a flight immediately,” he says.
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By the end of the day, he had a new kidney and a new lease on life.
For over 25 years, Anthony lived well with his transplant. He took all his medications, followed medical advice, and did everything “right.” His success story became a beacon of hope for other patients navigating kidney disease. But in late 2023, the unexpected happened.
When the Kidney Fails—Again
It began with a seemingly harmless illness. As a transplant recipient, Anthony’s immune system was suppressed to prevent organ rejection, leaving him more vulnerable to infections. When his symptoms didn’t improve, his nephrologist ran tests. His creatinine was high. His kidney function was deteriorating.
By early 2024, Anthony was back in the transplant evaluation process, hoping to secure a new kidney before his current one completely failed—a goal known as “preemptive transplantation.” This approach reduces complications and improves transplant success. But fate had other plans.
In March 2024, Anthony found himself in the ER with full kidney failure. His hopes for a preemptive transplant were dashed. He had to restart dialysis.
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Dialysis, Round Two: Choosing Control
This time, Anthony was determined to do things differently. After discussing options with his care team, he chose peritoneal dialysis (PD)—a type of home dialysis that allows patients to perform treatment themselves, using the lining of their abdomen to filter waste from the body.
“Going to in-center dialysis was tough. I was forced into a clinic, hooked up to a machine three days a week. I felt exhausted,” he says. “CAPD [Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis] gives me control. I feel healthier doing treatments daily and on my own schedule.”
Peritoneal dialysis offers several advantages:
- Fewer dietary restrictions
- The ability to travel
- Better preservation of residual kidney function
- Greater independence
For Anthony, it meant getting his life back on his terms.
A Life-Saving Discovery
What seemed like a setback—losing his transplant—turned out to be a hidden blessing. During the transplant evaluation process, doctors discovered stage 1 kidney cancer in his native kidneys. Because his original kidneys were no longer functioning, the cancer had no obvious symptoms. It could have gone undetected until it reached a more advanced stage.
“Losing the transplant hurt, but had it not failed, the cancer would have gone unnoticed,” Anthony says.
The early detection allowed for timely treatment and gave him yet another chance at life. He calls it “a blessing in disguise.”
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The Emotional and Spiritual Toll
Anthony’s story is not just about medical procedures and treatment choices—it’s also about the mental and spiritual weight of living with chronic illness.
He admits to feeling anger and disappointment when his transplant failed. “I did everything I was supposed to do,” he says. “Why did this happen to me?”
Emotional fatigue is common among transplant patients. According to the National Institutes of Health, post-transplant patients often experience anxiety, depression, and grief, particularly when a graft fails. But Anthony chose to transform his pain into purpose.
From Patient to Advocate
“I was more comfortable sharing my story, so I decided to do more. I became a National Kidney Foundation Board Member serving Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi. Through my work, I raised over $200,000 for NKF,” says Anthony. “I chaired Atlanta’s Kidney Walk from 2018 to 2020, helping raise more than half a million dollars. I had the honor of becoming NKF’s Chairman in 2021.”
Today, Anthony is not just a kidney patient—he’s an advocate. He volunteers with the National Kidney Foundation and speaks openly about his experiences to educate others, especially in Black communities where kidney disease is both common and often overlooked.
“I use my voice to raise awareness,” he says. “If I had known the link between high blood pressure and kidney disease, maybe I could’ve prevented all of this.”
He now encourages others to:
- Get their blood pressure checked regularly
- Understand their eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate)
- Advocate for themselves in healthcare settings
- Explore all treatment options, including transplant and home dialysis
He also urges Black men in particular to pay attention to their health.
“We’re taught to tough it out, not complain. But that mindset can cost us our lives,” he says.
Looking Ahead with Hope
Anthony is currently on the transplant list again, hoping for another gift of life. In the meantime, he continues his PD treatments, lives with purpose, and mentors other kidney patients who are just starting their journey.
His story is a powerful reminder that setbacks can become setups for something greater.
“I’ve learned to see the blessing, even in the challenge,” Anthony says. “This journey gave me more than it took. I found my purpose.”
