Yoshi, better known online as “ESRDPatient,” is a 24-year-old with a bright spirit and a love for both fishing and gaming. He has a full-time corporate job that keeps him busy throughout the week, yet he always finds time to enjoy his hobbies. In May 2024, his world changed when he was diagnosed with end-stage renal failure. This condition left him needing dialysis three times a week for four hours each session. Despite the harsh reality of his illness, ESRDPatient has kept a positive outlook, choosing to fill his days with activities that bring him joy and connection.
From the moment he received his diagnosis, Yoshi vowed to maintain as much normalcy in his life as possible. The sudden news of his kidney failure was difficult to absorb, but he found comfort in the support of his friends, family, and online communities. Even though medical treatments can be draining, he remains determined to balance work, personal passions, and his health. This unwavering resolve has become the driving force behind his decision to share his journey with others and to demonstrate that a life-changing diagnosis does not mean giving up on things one loves.
Adjusting to Dialysis
Receiving dialysis for four hours at a time, three days a week, is no simple feat. For ESRDPatient, the process of sitting still during treatment was overwhelming at first. Like many dialysis patients, he often felt restless and anxious in the confines of the clinic. However, he soon realized that if he wanted to navigate this chapter of his life more comfortably, he needed to find a creative way to make the hours pass more quickly.
That’s when he turned to his longtime passion for video games. Gaming provided a welcome distraction, allowing him to focus on virtual quests and adventures rather than the slow tick of medical machinery. By immersing himself in digital worlds, he gained a sense of normalcy. No matter the challenges he faced offline, he knew he could always find a bit of relief within the realms of his favorite games. Dialysis began to feel less like a burden and more like an opportunity for him to enjoy something he genuinely loves.
Gaming as a Lifeline
Yoshi’s relationship with gaming stretches back to his early years, but there was a period when he paused to concentrate on work and school. After finishing school and settling into a full-time corporate job, he returned to gaming just as his health issues intensified. Finding himself with hours to spend in a dialysis chair, he figured it was the perfect moment to rekindle his love for virtual entertainment.
One of the games he recently streamed is Marvel Rivals, although he doesn’t limit himself to just one category. Yoshi enjoys a variety of titles, from strategy games to action-packed adventures. For him, gaming isn’t about sticking to a single genre; it’s about exploring new stories and challenging himself in different digital playgrounds. This variety also offers viewers something fresh each time they tune in to his channel.
Building a Community on Twitch
When he began streaming, Yoshi didn’t intend to become a professional or famous broadcaster. Instead, he hoped to share his gameplay sessions with anyone who was curious, while also inviting people to keep him company during those long dialysis hours. His channel, twitch.tv/esrdpatient, slowly started to attract attention from fellow gamers and supporters who admired his determination.
Through Twitch, ESRDPatient discovered a new world of social interaction—one that extended beyond the boundaries of his corporate job and medical routines. Viewers from all walks of life stop by to watch him play, ask questions about his dialysis journey, and offer encouraging words. Over time, he found that these virtual connections helped boost his morale and reminded him that no one has to face difficult circumstances alone.
He also appreciates how streaming has turned into a two-way street. While his viewers root for his success and uplift him through thoughtful messages, he hopes to inspire anyone dealing with health challenges of their own. By sharing both his victories and frustrations on stream, he creates a relatable space where people can see that pushing forward is possible, even in the midst of adversity.
Looking Forward with Hope
Today, Yoshi continues to balance his corporate life, love of fishing, and dedication to gaming. Streaming remains a fun and uplifting outlet, serving as a reminder that he can still indulge in the activities he cherishes—dialysis or not. Whenever he goes live, he invites the world to witness his resilience firsthand, encouraging others to do the same in their own lives.
More than anything, he hopes his journey shows that no obstacle is too great when met with determination, community support, and a willingness to find joy in unexpected places. To anyone who drops by his channel, he offers a warm welcome and a reminder that, despite the hurdles we face, it’s still possible to carve out pockets of happiness and excitement. For Yoshi, streaming is about more than just playing games—it’s about celebrating the moments of freedom, laughter, and camaraderie that carry him through the toughest days. And that, in itself, is a victory worth sharing.
We had the privilege of interviewing the Twitch Gamer. Here are excerpts from the interview:
Thank you so much for joining us today! Please introduce yourself and tell us what you do.
My name is Yoshi. I am 24 years old. I work at a corporate job, and in my free time, I like to do fishing and gaming.
Please tell us about your Twitch Channel.
My Twitch account is mainly for streaming my games for fun. I like to play a variety of games. There are no specific games that I do play.
Please tell us about your journey.
I started my Twitch journey a long time ago, but I stopped gaming for a while as I focused on working and school. I am no longer in school, and I work full-time. I got back into gaming when I was diagnosed with end-stage kidney failure in May of 2024. Due to my condition, I have to do dialysis three times a week, four hours a day. Since I can’t move while I’m on dialysis, I decided to get back into gaming. That is when I decided to livestream my gameplay; I just do it for fun.
What are the strategies that helped you become successful in your journey?
There is no strategy to me becoming a successful streamer. I just game for fun, and I livestream for fun.
Any message for our readers
A message to our readers: I hope everybody does what they love and just enjoy life. Life is too short.
Thank you so much, Yoshi, for giving us your precious time! We wish you all the best for your journey ahead!