Clarity. Confidence. Readiness.

Culturally grounded kidney health coaching and patient advocacy for historically underrepresented communities navigating chronic kidney disease, dialysis, and transplant readiness — with a specialized focus on clients living in larger bodies.

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Why This Work Matters

Kidney disease doesn’t impact all communities equally. Underrepresented patients often face barriers that are systemic, cultural, and deeply personal. These numbers show why advocacy, readiness, and representation are not optional — they’re lifesaving.

90%

Medical mistrust impacts how historically underrepresented communities experience kidney care.

70%

Patients report feeling overwhelmed by medical information and unclear instructions.

3X

Higher likelihood of kidney failure in Black communities due to systemic inequities.

Founder's Story

I know this journey — because I've lived it.

My journey into advocacy began with my own experience navigating kidney disease in a larger body and the overwhelming realities of treatment, information, and decision‑making. I learned firsthand how isolating and confusing the process can be, especially for those who are historically underrepresented and who often face systemic barriers to clear, compassionate care.

I'm a Black woman at the intersection of several communities, and I speak from that experience openly and without apology. Historically, our communities have had every reason to distrust a healthcare system that has not always protected us - from how our concerns were dismissed to how policies were written to exclude us. That mistrust is not a flaw — it's a rational response. I also believe that when we have the right information, the right support, and someone in our corner who truly gets it, we can advocate for ourselves powerfully. That's what I'm here to do for you.

Thee Heavy Wait Wellness Collective was born from a commitment to ensure no one has to carry this heavy wait alone. Today, I use my lived experience, training, and community‑centered approach to help my clients feel prepared, supported, and represented at every step.

Credentials and Experience

Certified Kidney Health Coach - American Kidney Fund

American Association of Kidney Patients - Ambassador

Health Coach - American Council on Exercise (in progress)

Subject Matter Expert - End Stage Renal Disease National Coordinating Center

Medical Advisory Board & Subject Matter Expert HSAG Network 17 / Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

I want to take a moment to recognize and deeply appreciate the incredible inspiration and support that Antoinette provides. She has a rare and powerful gift for meeting people exactly where they are, identifying their needs, and helping them see themselves in a new light.

Antoinette has an effortless way of helping you recognize your own worth. She empowers you to speak up for yourself, to choose yourself, and to truly love yourself and your body- no matter what stage you’re in. That kind of guidance is transformative. It builds the foundation for self-advocacy and reminds you that you deserve to be heard, respected, and taken seriously- especially in healthcare settings.

Advocating for your own health can be intimidating, particularly when navigating challenges related to weight and physical health. Antoinette helps you work through those self-conscious thoughts, apprehensive feelings, and reconnect with that inner spark we all have. She is motivating, knowledgeable, and intentional in how she helps others push past racial, gender, and socioeconomic barriers that often exist within the healthcare system.

She not only uplifts you but equips you- with the right questions to ask, the confidence to seek answers, and the clarity to understand what you deserve.

I truly cannot recommend her enough. Antoinette doesn’t just support you- she empowers you to see your value and take ownership of your health, your voice, and your journey.

I've had the privilege of knowing and working with Antoinette for nearly a decade in my role as Patient Services Manager with the ESRD Network. Throughout that time, she has been an exceptional Patient Subject Matter Expert whose dedication has consistently elevated the voices and experiences of people living with kidney disease.

As a volunteer with the National Coordinating Center’s National Patient and Family Engagement Learning and Action Network, as well as our organization’s advisory board, she brought honesty, insight, and a deep sense of purpose to every discussion. She openly shared her lived experience, offered thoughtful and actionable feedback, and helped shape resources that have been used across the country to support ESRD patients and their families.

What has always stood out is her unwavering commitment to advocacy. She has encouraged, guided, and empowered countless patients, ensuring they feel heard and supported during some of the most challenging moments of their care journey. Her contributions have made a meaningful and lasting difference—not only within our programs, but across the broader ESRD community.

Her impact is real, and it will continue to be felt for years to come!

When I first met Antoinette, she was heading out of the clinic from her dialysis session, and I was at the scale checking in for mine. She said to me, " Take your sweater off. Every ounce counts". We both laughed as she went out the door. The next time I saw her, I asked for her name. I had been told that I needed to meet her because she was a black woman and a big girl like me and she had been on dialysis a while.

I never knew I needed to meet someone like her so much in my life before that moment. She has been so transparent with me about every challenge and struggle. She has always supported me and has never judged me. She has answered every question I have had and has always been genuine, relatable and hilarious. 

Her strength, her courage and her unwavering drive to be successful has kept me going on some of my darkest days.

 Thank you for all of your help and encouragement. Watching you receive your kidney changed everything for me. It showed me that this journey is possible, and it gave me the confidence to believe that I can be next.

You are a gift and a light. May God continue to bless you and be a blessing to others.