Robert Smith had a 36 year career with ABC Radio and now works as a freelance audio producer.

In 2007, his life was turned upside down with the diagnosis of an aggressive case of IgA Nephropathy which progressed to ESRD and dialysis within a couple of months. This commenced what Rob refers to as his ‘ride on the renal rollercoaster’. 

 

He moved to PD before receiving a live donor transplant from his wife Jo in 2009. Though the transplant itself was very successful, IgA recurred quickly and the graft failed within a matter of months. Since that time, Robert has practiced home haemodialysis, 6-7 nights a week for around 8-10 hours. 

 

In 2019 another challenge was thrown in Rob’s path with the IgA progressing toward Myeloma. He underwent stem cell transplant during the Covid lockdown and is now in remission.

 

Robert believes in pushing the boundaries of renal treatment – in particular defying it’s restrictive nature when it comes to travel. He has dialysed for weeks at a time in a tent in Kakadu National Park while indulging his passion for fishing and caravanned around Europe and New Zealand with dialysis machines onboard. He and Jo now travel in their beloved ‘Vinnie’ – a dialysis equipped 1976 Viscount Royal caravan. 

 

Rob is a passionate advocate of nocturnal home haemodialysis and has given presentations at numerous renal conferences and patient forums both in Australia and on his travels overseas promoting what he calls ‘The Rolls Royce of renal treatments’. You may also have seen his viral video hit ‘Stayin’ Alive – Dialysis Night Fever’. If not, maybe you should?