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

My name is Antoinette, and I am the founder of Thee Heavy Wait Wellness Collective. I spent 4 years managing my kidney disease before dialysis, and nearly a decade — 9 years and 9 months — on in-center hemodialysis before receiving a life-changing transplant. I know what it means to sit in that chair, week after week, and feel like the system wasn't built with you in mind. Because for so many of us, it wasn't. I was once told by my grandmother, "When you don't see people that look like you, it can be hard to trust that the system is built for you."

I created Thee Heavy Wait Wellness Collective because I kept seeing the same gaps — culturally competent care that was hard to find, medical literature that didn't reflect our communities, and a transplant road filled with roadblocks that hit Black and Brown communities the hardest. Health equity isn't just a phrase for me. It's what I lived through every single appointment, every denied referral, every moment I had to fight to be heard.

I'm a Black woman, 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. That mistrust is not a flaw — it's a rational response. But 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.

Rooted in faith, grounded in experience

My work is guided by a deep faith in God and trust in the Universe. That spiritual foundation kept me going through almost a decade of treatment, and it shapes how I show up for every client — with patience, intention, and the firm belief that you are worthy of care, clarity, and dignity.

Credentials & recognition

My lived experience is paired with formal training and national recognition in kidney health advocacy:



• Certified Kidney Health Coach - American Kidney Fund
• American Association of Kidney Patients - Ambassador
• Certified Health Coach - American Council on Exercise
• Subject Matter Expert - End Stage Renal Disease National Coordinating Center
• Advisory Board & Subject Matter Expert - HSAG Network 17 / Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Who I'm here for

I work with people navigating chronic kidney disease, dialysis, and transplant — especially those in Black and Brown communities, and those facing the added layer of weight-related challenges in their care. My focus on obese patients comes from knowing firsthand how our bodies, our needs, and our experiences are often overlooked or misunderstood in clinical spaces.

You don't have to translate yourself for me. You don't have to prove you deserve good care. You just have to show up — and I'll be right there with you.

If any part of my story resonates with yours, I'd love to connect.