Sir,In contrast to the reported poor prognosis of haemodialysis patients, the article by Heaf et al. [1] published in a recent issue of Clinical Kidney Journal reports the remarkable long-term survival of one such patient. We too have a similar story and can confirm that long-term survival is entirely possible. This may offer hope and allay the fears and depression that accompany the prospect of life-long dialysis.Our patient was a woman, born in 1944, who started treatment at the age of 26 for end-stage renal disease due to glomerulonephritis. Our patient received a kidney transplant in 1981, but unfortunately this did not function and she was never able to discontinue dialysis, even for one treatment session. The graft was ultimately removed after 1 week.Like Heaf et al.'s patient, ours underwent total parathyroidectomy with reimplantation in her right forearm, and calcium and PTH levels are now under control with 1 μg calcitriol weekly. What is even more remarkable is that her arterovenous fistula, which was inserted when she first started dialysis, is still working perfectly and is still used to administer treatment three times a week without any problems or signs of malfunction.Despite severe arthropathy and coronary artery disease (she has refused coronary angioplasty), her quality of life is good since she is reasonably independent in her everyday life and still lives at home with her husband.In September 2012, our patient celebrated 40 years of uninterrupted dialysis treatment with the entire dialysis staff, and an article appeared in a local paper to commemorate the event (http://ricerca.gelocal.it/tribunatreviso/archivio/tribunatreviso/2011/09/28/TP5PO_TP505.html). Interestingly, our patient has demonstrated the two essential qualities mentioned by Heaf et al.: ‘good compliance and a will to live’. In our opinion, it is important that these cases are made known, to demonstrate that although it may not be the rule, it is possible to survive for such long periods of time on dialysis and experience a good quality of life.