Kidney patient celebrates graduation with a party at HC organized by the Renal Replacement Therapy Service

Graduating from higher education is already a challenge for many young people, but for those who live with an intense routine of renal treatment — with hemodialysis sessions three times a week, every other day, or even daily in more severe cases — the achievement becomes even more significant. Against the odds, Larissa Vitória, 23 years old, a chronic kidney patient undergoing treatment at the Gaspar Vianna Clinical Hospital (HC), celebrated her graduation in Nursing after four years of balancing study and dialysis. The celebration had a special moment: the team from the Renal Replacement Therapy Service (TRS) organized a surprise party to honor the new health professional.

A heart patient and pacemaker user, Larissa developed chronic kidney disease due to her heart condition. Dependent on hemodialysis and experiencing long periods of physical fragility, she had to navigate limitations of time, energy, and transportation to continue studying.

"It was something really difficult. I remember that at the beginning my mother would take me, she would take me, wait for me, because when I started I was still very weak. Many times, I also missed classes and studied online at home. She was my biggest supporter. She signed me up, she actually enrolled me. And she just came to me and said: 'Look, I signed you up and you are going with me, we will find a way.' I said: 'But how am I going to do it this way?' And she replied: 'My daughter, we will go, we will find a way, there is a way for everything,'" recalls Larissa.

The daily interaction with the multidisciplinary team and her curiosity about how the sector works motivated her to choose the theme of her Final Course Project: the importance of nursing in hemodialysis.

"In the past, I didn't even know that hemodialysis existed. I only knew about kidney transplants; I had no idea what could affect the kidneys. So, when I started, I discovered a completely different world. There are many things that people don't know, just like I didn't at the beginning. When I started to follow the team, understand how it works, I became curious. It's not that I want to work in the area, but I found this world of nursing in hemodialysis very interesting. That's why I chose this theme," she shares.

During the surprise, professionals who have accompanied the young woman since her first months did not hide their pride. "An example of perseverance, of struggle. An example to colleagues who think that having a chronic illness is the end. She sought a place in the sun; it is a pride for the team and for the hospital that is dedicated to providing quality treatment and seeing the result transformed into overcoming. A person who could settle for the benefits she is entitled to and could become complacent, but who decided to act and carve out her space in the job market. She started a journey and showed that she will not stop there. A patient who left college full of dreams, and as far as this team that has accompanied her for years is concerned, she will soar far," highlighted, emotionally, nurse Kely Freitas, who has been following the patient's journey.

Larissa's graduation reinforces the role of welcoming and humanized care in chronic renal treatment. At HC, a state reference in nephrology and cardiology, the young woman's story has become a reason for collective celebration and inspiration for other patients.