Kidney Failure is Just One Part of Alexis Chapell’s Full Life

Photo Credit: Supplied by MNA on behalf of the National Renal Care

While dialysis may have been sustaining Alexis’ life for over 16 years, it doesn’t define it; it is his passion for family, business, and his garden that truly fuels it.

Pretoria, South Africa (10 March 2026) – Music lover and style aficionado Alexis Chapell’s days are full – from shopping for his elderly father to travelling for business and tending his flower garden.

Three days a week, however, he wakes up extra early to attend four hours of dialysis therapy at 4 am before starting his day. His life depends on it, but it has not stopped him from living it fully.

“I live a normal life. I go to dialysis as some people go to the gym,” says Alexis, aged 62, who has been living with kidney failure since 2009.

“Acceptance is the worst part of the kidney failure journey. It is rare that a person feels any symptoms of kidney disease approaching, and at that time, I felt healthy and strong. I knew I had chronic high blood pressure; it is a family illness, but it didn’t bother me much. I partied a lot – I’ve always had a love of music, and even now that I’m older and living clean, I never turn down a social invitation,” Alexis says.

He was first diagnosed after landing up in hospital 16 years ago. Initially puzzled by the diagnosis, doctors confirmed that his blood pressure got so high that it destroyed his kidneys. Without warning, his kidney function was destroyed.

“Diabetes and hypertension are consistently identified as the leading causes of chronic kidney disease globally, and family history is also a well-established risk factor,” says Dr Chevon Clark, chief executive officer of National Renal Care (NRC), which operates as a joint venture between Adcock Ingram Critical Care and Netcare Limited.

NRC provides the vital dialysis service that replaces the function of the kidneys for people like Alexis, whose kidneys have failed. In addition to haemodialysis, where a dialysis machine and semipermeable membrane artificially filter blood, and peritoneal dialysis, which uses the patient’s peritoneal membrane as the filter, NRC units countrywide offer a range of additional services for all stages of kidney disease.

“The primary goal of dialysis is to sustain life by substituting the excretory function of the kidneys. Dialysis artificially removes metabolic waste products, excess water, and rebalances electrolytes from the person’s blood when their kidneys are no longer able to perform these functions adequately,” Dr Clark explains.

Alexis usually has his dialysis at NRC Arcadia, based at Netcare Jacaranda Hospital in Pretoria. He often travels to Cape Town on business, where he attends dialysis at NRC Cape Town CBD, based at Netcare Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital.

“Although the unit in Cape Town is bigger, I prefer my familiar unit at NRC Arcadia because it feels like family. Between the technicians, staff and patients, we have a real sense of community. We spend a lot of time together, and it’s not unusual for me to have a coffee in the canteen and chat with members of the NRC team. For them, it’s not just a job; they really care about us, and we care about them too,” he says.

Dr Clark says early identification of at-risk individuals, especially those with diabetes, hypertension, or albuminuria, can help slow or prevent the progression to kidney failure with evidence-based pharmacologic and lifestyle interventions.

“Through providing personalised early clinical support for renal patients, it is often possible to avoid the need for dialysis, or delay it by years,” she explains.

Other risk factors for chronic kidney disease may include exposure to nephrotoxic medications, which can have side effects that may damage the kidneys, recurrent urinary tract infections, kidney stones, smoking and dietary factors, as well as older age, congenital anomalies, polycystic kidney disease, low birth weight or premature birth, or a history of certain pregnancy complications. Exposure to environmental factors, such as pollution, heat stress, dehydration and extreme weather events, is also emerging as a concerning potential contributor to renal failure.

With the support of his wife and the NRC Arcadia team, Alexis says dialysis does not define his life.

“I am still the breadwinner for my family, and I don’t let my life stand still because of dialysis. I enjoy my time there talking to the people, and when I am finished, I carry on with my day. I have an eye for nice clothes, and sometimes I treat myself to a stylish new shirt to wear to church on Sunday – and I feel good,” he says.

“I wanted to share my personal story so people can be more aware of the risks of kidney failure, which I wasn’t aware of. I know how difficult it is to come to terms with this new way of life, and I want to show people who are newly diagnosed that it is possible to live a full life on dialysis,” Alexis concludes.