I'm 20 years old and live in Argentina. I suffered from HUS when I was 1 year old.  I received blood transfusions and stayed in hospital for 7 days. Fortunately I made a good recovery.

However, when I was 12 I was upset because I didn’t want this illness.  I wanted to go with my friends to eat whatever I wanted and do the same as them so I stupidly decided to stop taking care of my health and eat everything I wanted. I believe this was the most stupid choice I ever made in my whole life. My nephrology doctor gave me pills and sent me to a psychologist, where I finally understood that there are more terrible diseases and that I could consider myself as a "HUS survivor". My life made a "click" there, when I realized how silly and stubborn I was! How selfish to think that my problem was the worst thing that could ever happen while teenagers were dying all over the world for worst causes. I started to take good care of myself and eat properly.

Although I am still taking pills my health is really good. I have urine and blood tests every six months but everything is perfectly right.

Nowadays I am the happiest girl in the world.  I am studying at university and I take care of myself because is the only thing I HAVE TO DO.

Unfortunately in my country there are no controls for HUS and years ago many teens died from eating undercooked burgers but the company spent millions of dollars in advertising and the case didn't go any further. People in my country are not aware of what this illness is capable of.  Luckily for me I am aware and my mother is happy that my kidneys are excellent.