Rising from the Ashes

Mr Darren Lee, 27, was born with very small kidneys. In fact, they were so small that they could not be detected through ultrasound. In 2001, when he was 13, symptoms of kidney failure surfaced.

No longer the active child he used to be, he would feel breathless after climbing the stairs. The doctor also discovered a high level of protein in his urine, indicating severe kidney failure. The doctor advised him to commence dialysis.

In 2004, his mother passed away. He lost his pillar of support and could not stop missing her. He became very depressed and his self-esteem took a dive. He lost the motivation to do anything – even when walking, his feet felt heavy. Eventually, he was unable to even lift them.

In 2006, Darren suffered from a severe infection and went into a critical condition. He was admitted to the intensive care unit and was hospitalised for four months.


Family Support As Darren was not able to walk for a period of time after his mother’s demise, he had to undergo surgery. Now, he still needs to do exercises to strengthen his leg muscles. He also has to take various medicine to control his blood pressure and heart rhythm.

In 2007, his condition improved. He no longer felt tired all the time. He undergoes dialysis three times a week, with each session lasting about four hours.

Bright Future He enjoys playing computer games and singing. As one of NKF’s Patient Advocates, he sometimes sings at NKF events to bring joy to others. The future is now looking brighter for Darren, who has found a job in an agriculture company.