My name is Cameron Lillie-Liberto, and I was born with kidney failure. From the very beginning of my life, dialysis, surgeries, and the hospital became part of my normal. I was born with Post-Urethral Valve Syndrome, which caused severe kidney damage before I was even born. I had my first surgery at just a few days old, and over the years I have lived through dialysis, transplant, setbacks, and the emotional rollercoaster that comes with chronic kidney disease. Kidney failure isn’t something that happened to me later in life — it has shaped every chapter of who I am.

 

Growing up with kidney disease taught me resilience at a very young age. I understand the anxiety of lab results, the exhaustion that people don’t always see, and the quiet questions about the future that we sometimes carry alone. There were seasons where I was just trying to survive… and there were seasons where I made the decision that I wanted to live fully, even with dialysis as part of my story. That shift in mindset changed everything for me. It’s why I care so deeply about creating spaces where people feel understood, supported, and empowered.

 

Alongside my lived experience, I’ve also worked professionally in kidney care as a hemodialysis technician, home dialysis technician, and Kidney Care Options Educator. That combination gives me a unique perspective — I’ve seen the system from both sides. I understand the medical side of treatment, but I also understand what it actually feels like to live it day in and day out. Today, I work as a Patient Experience Consultant and Speaker, partnering with organizations to help improve patient-centered care and to support individuals in building fulfilling lives while on dialysis. My heart has always been in service to this community.

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Finally, I want to express my deepest gratitude to Helen and Bill for what they have built through the Saddleback Kidney Support Group. What they created is more than a support group — it is a community rooted in compassion, consistency, and genuine care. They have provided a space where people can speak openly, ask hard questions, and feel less alone in a journey that can sometimes feel isolating. To be trusted with continuing something they have nurtured is an incredible honor. I do not take that lightly. My intention is to preserve the heart of what they created while also bringing my own lived experience and perspective into the space. Helen and Bill, thank you for your dedication to the kidney community and for believing in me to carry this forward. I am truly grateful, and I’m excited for this next chapter together.