By Ava Collier

Horace and Schelorrey O’Kelly are battling Chronic Kidney Disease. Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) affects 20 million Americans every year. With this number so prominent it should not be surprising that someone close to you has CKD.

Horace and Schelorrey found out about their kidney disease in their early thirties. Unaware of each other, Horace and Schelorrey were traveling their individual paths. Horace was a girl’s Semi-Pro basketball coach with hopes of coaching professionally. Schelorrey was a hair dresser and a speaker with hopes of starting her own salon as well as work in the ministry. Instead of continuing on their desired paths, there was a sudden interruption in their plans. Now they faced death. Materialism, social status and careers became negligible considerations. “Why Me!,” became center stage of their thoughts. Horace, who contemplated suicide, and Schelorrey, with anger towards God, had to answer the question of why they were here.

Lonely, not quite understood, and with no one to talk to Horace and Schelorrey had to decide to fight for their lives. As parents, their children took priority and were deemed reasons to live. Horace, unaware of his soon-to-be bride, took dialysis Monday – Wednesday and Friday. Schelorrey, without thought of a soon- to-be love connection, took dialysis Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Horace O’Kelly and Schelorrey Marshal were two ships, similar situations, passing in the night. But when Schelorrey had to switch dialysis days, it gave opportunity for this foxy redhead to be wooed by Horace. The two who once could not identify with the support team that was around them now had someone that could understand a whence, wink, tear, or sigh from the other; they found joy and stamina in each other. For ten years now they have battled Chronic Kidney Disease. With death ever present, priorities have shifted. CKD does not just affect the kidneys, it affects the life. But here stands a couple, Horace and Schelorrey O’Kelly, who decided that they were going to battle CKD and win!