Felicia Tarnecki had been living with a kidney transplant for 29 years. The treatment option for end stage kidney disease (ESKD) enabled Tarnecki to continue doing the things she loved, including hanging out with her best friend and trying new restaurants.

But kidney transplantation is not a cure for ESKD, and many people may experience their transplant failing.

This was the case for Tarnecki in 2021 due to a non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis, and she began undergoing dialysis at DaVita. This transition came with overwhelming feelings and emotion, which prompted Tarnecki to seek a connection with someone who could understand what she was going through.

“When I first started dialysis, I felt depressed. So, I asked my social worker at DaVita if there was a program where I could talk to someone experiencing the same things I was,” Tarnecki shared.

Felicia’s emotional experience is not an uncommon one. Receiving dialysis treatment, undergoing a kidney transplant or caring for someone with kidney failure can take a toll, with challenges that friends and family cannot relate to.

DaVita optimizes care delivery in a manner that allows patients to seek the best outcome possible. This extends beyond the physical health of patients, to caring for their mental health as well.

Tarnecki’s social worker pointed her in the direction of the National Kidney Foundation’s (NKF) PEERS program.

NKF PEERS connects individuals — whether they are patients, living donors or care partners for someone with kidney disease — with mentors who have lived similar experiences and can offer help through sharing their experiences.  

In 2024, DaVita announced an investment with NKF PEERS through the DaVita Giving Foundation to help reach people who could benefit from the support.

“Through the DaVita Giving Foundation, we seek to champion causes and organizations that can make an impact on the lives of those managing chronic illnesses, like kidney disease,” said Liz Gardner, executive director of the DaVita Giving Foundation. “We know that people managing chronic diseases can experience mental health challenges at higher rates and that social connection can help support their well-being. The NKF PEERs program provides a meaningful way for kidney patients and others to find that vital support and connection they might not otherwise have.”

Through NKF PEERS, Tarnecki was connected to Janine Prazza, who had been a home dialysis patient before receiving a kidney transplant in 2024.

Prazza is retired and, had previously undergone heart and kidney transplantats.

“I have time to help others,” Janine said. “I want to give others encouragement throughout their journey, which the NKF PEERS program has given me the opportunity to do.”

It’s been over 6 months since Tarnecki and Prazza connected through the NKF PEERS program, and their relationship has continued to flourish. Tarnecki said she and Prazza are able to connect as people first and talk about similarities and subjects outside of their dialysis journeys.

“It was intimidating to be paired with a stranger, but I was shocked at how well the program matched me,” Felicia explained. “Janine’s mentorship and guidance has helped me realize I am not going through this alone.”

Even outside of the NKF PEERS program, Tarnecki said she has found a community that feels like family within her center.

“The nurses here treat you the way you want to be treated. They know me well, and they don’t want to change me,” she said.

At DaVita, clinical care teams see the tremendous value in connecting with their patients.

“The relationship between a patient and nurse is one that’s very important to me,” said Carly Barron, a DaVita registered nurse and member of Tarnecki’s care team. “People who dialyze in-center spend several hours each week in the center, so we spend a lot of time together. “Felicia is a wonderful patient and person, and I can’t think of anybody better suited to highlight the power of connection.” 

To learn more about the NKF PEERS program, please visit: https://www.kidney.org/treatment-support/peers