Sinem Önel was born in Bursa, Turkey, in 1992 and has lived in İnegöl since her early years. She fondly remembers her childhood, growing up with two sisters. When her mother lost her sight during pregnancy, Sinem had to abandon her education after secondary school, stepping in as a “replacement mother.”
Sinem started dialysis at the age of 19 due to nephrotic syndrome. Although experiencing difficulties at first, she accepted treatment more easily when her physical symptoms got significantly better. She underwent haemodialysis treatment for one and a half years in her hometown at the Özel FMC İnegöl Diyaliz Merkezi. It was where she learned about home haemodialysis – and where Sinem met her future husband.