“Hello, my name is Darren Daniel and I’m also known as TikTok Kidney Warrior or Ttkwarrior for short. I was diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease in 2016, and since then – my life has changed dramatically. I was a smoker, and a junk food addict who rarely exercised at all. I didn’t think I needed to, I was only 36 years old. My kidney disease wasn’t inherited, although the reason I had it was inherited. Hypertension runs in my family. My dad had it, both of my grandads had it. I need medicine now to control my blood pressure, and a massive change in my diet to help too. My exercise levels have had to increase and my water intake change has helped control my hypertension. It has made a huge difference so far!
When I first went to see my renal team after my diagnosis, I saw so many people like me. Some older, some younger, but all with the same condition. We spoke at length while we awaited our appointments. Not one of us had seen any form of kidney disease awareness on television, or social media, or on the radio. Nowhere at all
It was then I decided that I could raise awareness, and help reach other people and warn them of something I had. Something I didn’t wish upon anybody else. An illness which can be absolutely devastating, life threatening and debilitating.
This is when I launched my TikTok page, TikTok Kidney Warrior, or Ttkwarrior for short. I started by showing people the symptoms of kidney disease, and the daily struggle for a kidney patient. I explained the medication I have to take and how to make my day a little easier, foods to eat and foods to avoid.
I’ve managed to build a community of kidney patients, where we’re able to help each other on a daily basis. A place for kidney patients to leave each other advice and tips for getting through the day.
Raising awareness has been one of the most amazing things I’m able to do. My account has grown to a huge following of 80,000 people, close to half a million likes and way over 45 million views in total across my account. I want to grow even more, until I make the message of kidney disease awareness to the entire world.
My aim is to make everyone on earth, every single person on earth to be aware of kidney disease. I don’t want anybody to suffer in silence, I want them to know there is help out there, and there is someone to turn to for answers.”
