Spotlight on: A scientist’s mind on dialysis

Until 1992, when he was nearing 30, Michalski had barely given his kidneys a second thought. That all changed when during a routine medical exam he learnt he had high levels of protein in his urine. Follow-up tests at the local hospital ensued and after under­going a kidney biopsy, he received his diag­nosis: glomerulonephritis, or inflammation of the kidneys.

Initially, Michalski was able to continue living as usual without immediate need for dialysis, though his doctor told him this would change with time as his kidney function decreased. Eight years after first hearing his diagnosis, he noticed he was feeling more and more tired. Although he was seeing his nephrologist every three months, he could tell his condition was getting worse and at the end of 2011, his doctor shared with him that it was time to start dialysis. After reviewing options with his nephrologist, Michalski chose peritoneal dialysis (PD) for treatment, in great part because he felt it would give him more flexibility to continue pursuing the career he had worked so hard to establish.

In January 2012, he had surgery to insert the catheter that allowed the dialysis solution to flow in and out of his abdomen and he learnt how to perform the treatment at home. From the start, Michalski was open to transplantation, though he knew it came with both pluses and minuses. To keep his options open, his doctor placed his name on the list for a donor. On 26 January 2013, two years into PD treatment, and just a few days shy of his 50th birthday, he received a phone call that there might be a matching donor kidney. Michalski went directly to the hospital in Bydgoszcz where the surgery was successfully performed.

But the kidney was not only his birthday present; he also received the call on Polish Transplant Day, which is celebrated each year on 26 January to commemorate the anniversary of the first successful Polish kidney transplant in 1966.

Though Michalski is not currently on dialysis, he continues to reach out to and support other dialysis patients. He is a proud member of Poland’s National Association of Dialysed Patients, which publishes a quarterly patient magazine and Michalski wrote a series of articles about coping with his disease, living well with dialy­sis and finally transplantation. Always think­ing of how his experience can help others faced with a similar diagnosis or situation, Michalski’s words are personal, motivating and provide emotional support to kidney patients. At various times of the year he can also be found at nephrology conferences where he represents the patient’s point of view of living with dialysis.

Committed to maintaining an active lifestyle, Michalski cooperates with the Polish Trans­plant Sport Association. In 2014 he helped with the organisation of the European Trans­plant & Dialysis Sports Championships in Krakow where he was a volunteer. In retrospect, dealing with the diagnosis of renal failure and dialysis breathed new vital­ity into Michalski’s life, giving him new research to conduct, new causes to support and new people whose lives he could affect in a positive way. He lives by the saying “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”