Thank you for visiting the page of Khalil Charles Shamieh. Your presence here is a demonstration of your love for Khalil.  Diabetes and Kidney disease took him from us, and it is our goal to honor him by providing a platform to promote awareness, educate others, encourage donations, and advocate for organ donation so other individuals and families impacted by kidney disease have the opportunity to live and have the best quality of life possible.

His kidney story started in 2013. When we first learned of Kal’s renal failure (kidney failure) his nephrologist explained the immediate need to start hemodialysis (clinic based dialysis). Kal was not eager at first, but as a couple we elected to commit initially to the hemodialysis treatment option, which required three clinic treatment visits per week, each four hours. Kal remained positive, as he always did, with all the challenges that life brought his way. So, he faithfully started his dialysis journey, with a positive attitude and strong resolve.  Khalil was not initially interested in a kidney transplant, and later, after a few years passed it was unfortunately no longer an option. We even tried home dialysis for a period of time, but it wasn’t the best fit for Khalil’s medical needs.

Over his 8-year dialysis journey, we experienced both some valley and mountaintop moments, neither we’d change and grateful for them because they were all part of the process to have him here with us for as long as he was.  When Khalil first received the diagnosis of renal failure due to his diabetes, with his eternal optimism and positive outlook on things, he continued work, to travel, and maneuver through life although being tethered to dialysis centers throughout California. Thank God for hemodialysis clinics in Fort Bragg, Newport Beach, and Los Angeles.  When we started the dialysis journey, he was mobile and was fairly healthy. The rigorous nature of dialysis treatments on the body took its toll. After the heart valve replacement surgery in March of 2021, Khalil had a difficult recovery but, in Khalil fashion, he battled back after the loss of memory setback only to experience sepsis from a cortisone injection. Khalil's positive and encouraging nature never wavered, up to that fateful day where he passed away while in dialysis. 

While we truly miss Khalil, we are heartened that his journey hopefully serves as support for others. Through awareness, education, and donations (financial and organ), we hope the efforts to honor Kal will also play a role in helping to eradicate kidney disease.

We are eternally grateful for the support we received from family and friends along this journey. We leave you with words of encouragement shared in the poem below as our hearts continue to grieve. But we rest in knowing that we know, we know, we know, he ran an amazingly inspiring race and fought the good fight, so he has absolutely earned his sweet rest in the arms of our Heavenly and Most Gracious Father.
 
Are you interested in becoming a living donor? Learn more about the 'Gift of Life': Kidney4Joseph and  here

Your generosity will fund the fight to:

- Expand access to home dialysis and kidney transplants for all Americans.

- Increase funding for kidney disease research

-Identify and eliminate kidney health disparities

Every gift, no matter how small, is meaningful to me and will ensure that Khalil's legacy can live on in this important work. I would be so grateful for your support to help fight kidney disease.
  Please join us for a 'Celebration of Life' we are planning for Khalil. Come share memories, laughter, music and great food.  The Celebration will be held on January 8, 2023 at 12:30 pm at the Wednesday Club in Suisun City, CA. To RSVP, please call Nanette Shamieh - 916 847-4667 or at www.soldoneachother.com. 


Thank you all,
Nanette Shamieh