Hi, My name is Belinda Otas. My Chronic illness photos are a chronicle of my life on dialysis and my contribution to the organ donation conversation. It is documented here on Twitter for world kidney day. https://twitter.com/BelindaOtas/status/1106099675080339456
The story they tell is about the gruelling process and impact of dialysis on my body and life. Dialysis keeps me alive but it is also a thief of time and strength, and that can make life a challenging balance between surviving and thriving – You are grateful to be alive but you are hurting because you can’t always pursue all your goals/purpose as you are perpetually exhausted/lethargic.
Above all, it is a story of hope and resilience, and the fight to keep going because of a renewed perspective to make the moments and minutes of life count for something. It is also about my belief in our shared humanity. This is why I have added my voice to the conversation about organ donation in the UK Black and African community because I believe that when we know better, we will do better by us and for us.
Instagram: @BelindaOtas
Twitter: @BelindaOtas
Image Copyright: Àsìkò, https://www.asiko-artist.com, 2019
Image Description: A person in a black sleeveless top and trousers, wearing a grey and red head wrap. They are standing with her head tilted to the right and looking down with their eyes closed, wrapped by plastic dialysis tubing. The background is grey.
Image Copyright: Àsìkò, https://www.asiko-artist.com, 2019
Image Description: A person in a black sleeveless top and trousers, wearing a grey and red head wrap lying on the floor in a foetal position, holding their head. Empty plastic jugs encircle her.
Image Copyright: Àsìkò, https://www.asiko-artist.com, 2019
Image Description: A person in a black sleeveless top and trousers, wearing a grey and red head wrap. They are looking forward at the camera, with dialysis tubing connected to her. They are standing behind a collection of empty plastic jugs.
Image Copyright: Àsìkò, https://www.asiko-artist.com, 2019
Image Description: A person in a black sleeveless top and trousers, wearing a grey and red head wrap, crouched down and holding her head. They are holding plastic dialysis tubing which falls around them on the floor.
Image Copyright: Àsìkò, https://www.asiko-artist.com, 2019
Image Description: A person in a black sleeveless top and trousers, wearing a grey and red head wrap. They are lying on the floor in the foetal position, curled up with and ensconced by dialysis plastic tubing.
Image Copyright: Àsìkò, https://www.asiko-artist.com, 2019
Image Description: A person in a black sleeveless top and trousers, wearing a grey and red head wrap. They are sat on a stool, looking down, attached to dialysis plastic tubing that is connected to empty plastic jugs sat on the floor next to their stool.
Image Copyright: Àsìkò, https://www.asiko-artist.com, 2019
Image Description: A person in a black sleeveless top and trousers, wearing a grey and red head wrap. They are sat on a stool, looking up and holding the dialysis plastic tubing they are attached to. The tubing is linked to the plastic jugs on the floor that surround their feet.
Capturing Chronic Illness 