We recently connected with Jazrome Coulter and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jazrome , thanks for joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
When I was in 5th grade, I drew this picture of a lion on an open plain. My childhood was abusive and drawing was my outlet! In Oklahoma I won an award! If I remember correctly it was called the “Junior Artist Jim Thorpe award”. I was so excited!!! Right after that I quit drawing! I think god gave us gifts! It’s our job to define and grow these gifts! It has something to do with comedy, but more with artistic expression. I liked to draw lions because they felt powerful to me. I love to do comedy, because telling a joke can be healing! When I found out I had kidney disease, I felt lost, confused and hurt! Kidney disease is weird! So I started making videos about it on Snapchat! I did a joke about “ If somebody gave me a drink of water at the club I would die!” Because of fluid retention! A side effect of kidney disease. Then my sister said “You should be a Comedian!” So I moved to Phoenix and got on stage in 2021! So I tell kidney jokes! In every part of my life my creativity was an expression of my experiences! I’ve felt so much pain and love in my life, I just want to use that to help people! So I guess I’ve always known, just had to figure out the best way to use it.
Jazrome , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I am a 6 year dialysis survivor, recent transplant recipient, kidney advocate, ex college athlete and young entrepreneur. Lots of titles, but mainly I’m a comedian ! I’m passionate about comedy and about helping people. I have a non-profit called Diseased Jokes. When I started this kidney disease journey there wasn’t much information ! Or maybe there was, but I definitely didn’t know how to find it! Information is your best tool. If I had a proper understand of my disease maybe I could have reversed the outcome and stayed off dialysis. So me and my teams primary goal is just to connect people with information or get them involved in some of these great organizations! Not just kidney disease! Every chronic illness! We all have a similar journey, struggling with things we don’t quite understand or we feel overwhelmed ! That’s why we chose to build benefits for foundations built around Chronic Illnesses. So I can help them acquire donations so they can continue to fulfill their missions. I also want to use my gift of comedy to teach people! Perseverance, overcoming tough obstacles and it’s never the end of the road till you give up! Not only is it a great motivator, it’s an even greater form of entertainment! You can hire me for one of your corporate events or conferences! A percentage of my performances always goes back into building events for these great organizations! I think I’m most proud of the people that come out to support the cause! Of course all the people that support us and what we do! It’s such a unique journey and people get drawn to it. I’m just proud to be apart of it!
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
Just seeing how my comedy and representing this cause effects people. To look at somebody like “Lawson” 4 years old, suffering from FSGS. The very same disease that took the life of my kidneys 6 years ago, which landed me on dialysis. To know, I’ll be there to walk that path with her. When we first met. I made her pancakes, that’s a big deal! Because I do not share my pancakes! She has amazing parents! Who built a foundation helping others deal with kidney disease and those going through hard times called LC Renal! It’s a fact my journey started with the kidney foundation The 1in9 Tribe! It’s about building that tribe, my “kidney fam!” As I expand and build with many other organizations. I’ll help more people, see more faces, and just enjoy being there!
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
I played football in college, I definitely had signs of kidney disease! But didn’t know the signs! Years later my kidneys failed. I gave up football, because I thought it was just my athleticism. I was already coming off that loss. Then struggling with addiction and drinking, Even years after my kidneys failed. The death of my brother, while being on dialysis! Getting kicked off two kidney transplant list in the same state! Couch surfing during covid! Felt like I’d never get a kidney! But just kept going, praying surviving, and being grateful. Thank God, I have a new kidney! Now I run around telling people I’m going to change the world. Because I am!
Contact Info:
- Website: Diseasedjokes.org
- Instagram: @Aj_coulter2
- Facebook: @jazromecoulter
- Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/aj-coulter-668664235
- Other: [email protected]
Image Credits
Steven Felhimeir Jazrome Coulter