Garnette Gobert, 58, recently celebrated a landmark anniversary  27 years on dialysis. Friends at Renal Care Groups Nederland, Texas, clinic made the day extra special by throwing a party in her honor.

In 1975 Garnette, then 29 years old, was diagnosed with Brights disease, a deterioration of the kidneys. She had no choice but to go on dialysis. At that time my two boys were 8 and 10, she says. I knew that the best way to take care of them was to take care of myself.

In the almost three decades since her first treatment, Garnette has had her ups and downs, but she believes a positive attitude has kept her going. I knew that I had to follow the rules if I wanted to feel good and stay alive.

Since that first day, Garnette found out as much as she could about her kidney disease and has been careful to follow her diet and fluid restrictions.

You feel so much better if you do, she says. I have tried the other way too, and you dont feel good. You get sick to your stomach, you feel bloated and you have trouble breathing. The best thing is to stick to your regimen.

Garnette admits that depression can sometimes creep in, but she advises fellow patients to keep their minds on other things.

This sounds kind of harsh, but dont just sit around and feel sorry for yourself, she says. If you can get over that feeling, you can have a good life.