Filipe Almeida travels around the world with his family

I was diagnosed with a kidney disease as an infant, and I am currently receiving haemodialysis treatment three times per week - now me and my family is going to see the world. As the disease was of a immunological aetiology and had a genetic origin, it was expected to progress into adulthood. Only a year and a half ago – the kidney disease reached stage 5; a stage when haemodialysis, or another replacement treatment (such as Peritoneal Dialysis or Renal Transplant) becomes necessary to replace renal function and stay alive.

Accepting this new condition was not easy, but I refused give up on my life projects and, with the support of my wife Catarina, we decided to undertake this trip around the world, proving that nothing is impossible, even for end-stage kidney patients. Me and Catarina are both entirely committed to this dream. Our blog, in which we are writing about our lives and routines – www.allaboardfamily.com – will serve as a platform for reporting on our experiences, as a diary for our son, and as a source of inspiration for other kidney patients.

Over the course of a year – me, Catarina and our son Guilherme – will be visiting thirty countries, for example several European countries such as Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Croatia, Albania, Hungary, The Czech Republic, Poland, Lithuania and the Netherlands. Other destinations will include Bahamas, Cuba, Mexico, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Jordan, South Africa, Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand, India, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and Brazil, where we plan to end our trip in March 2020.

The main focus os this trip is on adventure, a rare experience for a chronically ill patient whose life depends on undergoing treatment every other day. I want to inspire other chronic kidney patients to help them enjoy their mobility and exercise their right to a normal and empowered life, as well as to other families travelling with children.