7% dialysis – 93% life
How travel is still possible with dialysis through d.HOLIDAY
For many people living with dialysis, travel can feel like a closed door. A life once filled with spontaneity, movement and possibility can suddenly become defined by schedules, treatments and uncertainty.
But what if that door is not closed, just different to open?
For me, travel was never just a hobby, it was part of life. Through the support of Diaverum and the d.HOLIDAY programme, it became clear that living with dialysis does not mean stopping, it simply means planning differently.
Changing my perspective
Before starting dialysis in early 2024, travel included everything from European city breaks to cruises. But my chronic kidney disease diagnosis changed my perspective completely. My first thought was that life as I knew it was finished. No more travelling. When dialysis started, I felt like everything was over, as if the world would become smaller.
But a small moment changed everything. At a local clinic, something unexpected caught my attention: brochures encouraging patients to travel. It did not seem real at first. But by asking questions and learning step by step, my doubt slowly turned into understanding, and then into confidence.
From first step to new possibilities
The first trip was close to home. I felt uncertain and hesitant. But as it turned out, the whole experience was just like being at my regular dialysis centre.
That experience created trust. From there, destinations expanded further and further. Each journey made the next one feel more possible.
Dialysis sets the rhythm, not the limits
Today, I plan travel around my treatment schedules. Morning dialysis sessions make it possible to enjoy the rest of the day, meeting others, exploring new places and experiencing everyday life.
Some days require more rest, others allow for more activity, and that balance becomes part of the journey itself.
The people behind every journey
Behind each trip is a network of coordination and care. Diaverum has dedicated d.HOLIDAY Coordinators across 25 countries who support patients every step of the way. Local clinic teams adjust schedules, international teams ensure treatment is booked in advance, and everything comes together to make travel possible.
These people make it possible to keep living life. This support, often unseen, is what transforms the idea of travel into reality.
More than travel, a new mindset
Travel has not only made movement possible again, but it has also changed my perspective. There is now more focus, flexibility and appreciation for what truly matters.
It’s important to remember this: Dialysis takes about 7 percent of a week. The other 93 percent is life.
That perspective reshapes everything. 93 percent is still life.
Today, I am already planning new journeys, including a dream trip to Japan in the future.
My message to others living with dialysis is simple: Travel. Live. Do not wait. With the right support, it is possible.
Because dialysis does not take life away, it reshapes it. And with the right support, life can still be full of movement, discovery and freedom.
At Diaverum, we are committed to safeguarding patient privacy and ensuring data protection. This is a real patient story, but identities have been protected to ensure privacy, with the same level of care we provide in our treatments.
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