(1888PressRelease) October 21, 2026 - GLENDALE - The Renal Support Network (RSN) is pleased to announce the winners of its 24th Annual Essay Contest, celebrating the voices and experiences of people living with kidney disease. The Essay Announcement is happening the same week as ASN Kidney Week 2026, the world’s premier nephrology meeting, bringing together professionals dedicated to improving care for people living with kidney disease. At the heart of this work are the lived experiences of patients-stories of treatments that helped, challenges overcome, and hope found along the way. The Renal Support Network (RSN) Essay Contest is the longest-running patient-perspective essay contest of its kind, celebrating the unique experiences and insights of people living with kidney disease firsthand.
“Patient voices matter,” notes Lori Hartwell, founder and president of the Renal Support Network and coincidentally the first recipient (and patient) of the ASN Presidential medal in 2013. “Their stories help inform care, inspire others, and remind us why hard work, dedication and listening to the patient matters.”
This year’s essay theme, “Treatment Choice Experience: What Worked, What Didn’t, and Where Are You Now?” invited people with kidney disease to share their personal journeys, treatment decisions, challenges, and discoveries. Through their essays, writers offered honest and meaningful perspectives on navigating kidney disease and finding a path forward.
The 24th Annual Essay Contest winners are:
First Place: Deepti Behel, “The Choices That Carried Me” from San Jose, CA.
Second Place: Jennifer Cramer-Miller, “Unfailing Hope” from Wayzata, MN.
Third Place: Mike Gothard, “Changing the Equipment” from Beaufort, NC.
President’s Choice: Grace Tabata, “Holding on with My Lifeline” from Hacienda Heights, CA.
The judges also selected thirteen honorable mentions that ranked highly, particularly for their alignment with the theme. With so many thoughtful and compelling essays submitted, the judging process was especially difficult. Winners of the essay contest will receive cash prizes and will be published on the website.
“These essays remind us that every person’s treatment experience is unique,” said Lori Hartwell, founder and president of the Renal Support Network. “By sharing what worked, what did not, and where they are now, these writers help educate and encourage others living with kidney disease. It brings me so much hope to read each essay.”
The annual essay contest gives people with kidney disease an opportunity to share their experiences and help others feel less alone. Through these stories, readers can recognize that they share similar experiences, learn how others process their feelings, and find encouragement in knowing they are not alone. RSN congratulates all of this year’s contestants, including the winners and thirteen honorable mentions, for their courage, honesty, and thoughtful contributions. Their stories demonstrate the strength of the kidney disease community and the power of sharing personal experiences. RSN would like to thank Akebia Therapeutics, Ardelyx, Fresenius Kidney Care, Dialysis Clinics Inc. and U.S. Renal Care for supporting this program.
About Renal Support Network
Lori Hartwell founded Renal Support Network (RSN) in 1993 to empower people who have kidney disease to become knowledgeable about their illness, proactive in their care, hopeful about their future and make friendships that last a lifetime. Lori was diagnosed in 1968 with kidney failure and knows how important hope, peer connection and knowledge is to survive and thrive with an illness.
Annual Contest Gives Patients a Voice. 
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