Nollywood actress Ufuoma McDermott has revealed her long struggle with kidney disease in an emotional interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo.
The 43-year-old actress shared that she has been battling the disease for the past 12 years, initially diagnosed with stage three kidney disease, which later advanced to stage four.
Reflecting on her health journey, Ufuoma disclosed the toll the illness has taken on her, expressing concerns over her weight and lifestyle choices in relation to her condition.
“My weight, people do not understand when I say I cannot afford to put on weight, I do not want to die,” she explained. “I have little children. I had pushed my body, and it was borderline stage 4.”
She recounted a challenging period last year when she feared for her life due to her worsening health.
“Last year was a very trying time in my life where I thought I was going to die,” Ufuoma said. “I have battled chronic kidney [disease] for a while, for about 12 years now.”
Despite her doctors’ advice to rest, Ufuoma admitted that she was reluctant to step away from work, which contributed to her health challenges. She recalled negotiating with her doctor, who cautioned her on the importance of rest and the need to lower her blood pressure.
“I was negotiating with the doctor, she said, ‘I need you to go home and rest,’” Ufuoma recounted. “But I was like, ‘What if I go home? I promise you I will sleep today, before I leave tomorrow.’ She said, ‘Ufuoma, I need you to sleep now, if you can take tabs and just sleep. I need you to rest, I need your blood pressure to drop.’”
