The Mount Airy facility has a celebrity in its midst. Self-care patient Nia Maxwell, 23, was featured on a recent Discovery Health Channel special on transplants.

She was honored when her doctors at Albert Einstein Medical Center recommended her for the TV special. "It was a true blessing to be able to get the word out to other young people that kidney disease is not the end of your life," Nia says. "You can still go on and do great things and bring happiness to others."

Nia was in her second year at Penn State University in October 2000 when she found out she had ESRD. The cause was unknown. "It was a devastating nightmare in the beginning," she says.

After trying peritoneal and regular hemodialysis, she visited the Mount Airy self-care unit in May 2003. She admits to being a little intimidated at first. "I looked around and everyone was doing things for themselves. I asked the nurse, ‘Can I really do this?'"

Once Nia learned how to work the different parts of the machine, though, she was convinced of the benefits. "Instead of someone else doing everything for me, I love the freedom and the control of doing it myself," she says. "It makes me want to take better care of my body."

When she first started self-care, her salt intake and fluids were consistently too high-and her body was suffering. "I told myself, it doesn't make any sense for a 23-year-old not to be able to walk the street without taking a break. I decided to take better care of myself."

The decision paid off. "My fluids are under control, my heart is in much better shape than it was last year and my blood pressure is much more controlled," she says.

Nia didn't waste any time. She put her renewed energy into a volunteer job as the unit's social activity director. She recently planned successful trips for patients and associates to the Baltimore Aquarium and to Six Flags. She also organized a bowling party, a cookout in the park, a Thanksgiving party and she is in the middle of planning the unit's Christmas festivities.

"I want people to feel excited about living," she says. "Now patients ask me, ‘Nia, when are we doing the next thing?'"

As for her own future, Nia is considering going back to school to study nursing and hopes to become involved with public speaking. She was also recommended to be a patient advocate, part of a special team of Renal Care Group patients who write, phone and visit lawmakers to ensure that laws are passed that help dialysis patients.

Her latest volunteer project is helping to set up a Patient Spirit Club. Members will pay dues into a fund that will recognize fellow patients for birthdays, school graduations and other special events.

It's all part of Nia's big plan. "I want patients to get in the driver's seat and drive toward better health. I'm trying to motivate others, to get them to take a step forward."