On October 30, 2010 I was admitted to Tri-City Medical Center, by my primary physician. At the time I had diabetes, hypertension, and had suffered a stroke. I was admitted, this time because of the constant high blood sugar reading of my (A1C) test.
One day, a young nephrologist stopped by my room to introduce himself and to let me know of the results of his research on my kidneys. At the end of our conversation he advised me to start dialysis treatment as soon as possible.
As soon the doctor walked out of my room my life immediately felt much darker.
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Of course I've heard the term "dialysis," but at the age of 68 I asked myself, “What do I really know about dialysis and my illness?” The answer was easy: NOTHING.
So I made the decision that I did not want to go on a kidney machine! With this morbid view of my situation, my life got darker yet again.
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However, the darkness began to lighten when the nephrologist made a second visit to my room. He helped me make an informed decision, using charts, medical graphs, and articles that I should start dialysis immediately, so I did. I had two or three treatments even before leaving the hospital.
Shortly after being released from Tri-City Medical Center, I continued my dialysis treatment - three hours at a time, three days per week.
I did this with the understanding that should my kidney diagnostics show good improvements, my dialysis visits would be reduced. Eventually my GFR Lab reports improved enough that this became a reality. After about four months, I actually stopped attending the clinic.
Life was brighter again…
But soon thereafter I had the same symptoms, and my labs revealed that I would need to return to dialysis. Darkness returns!
This time, I agreed to go to a new facility: Satellite Dialysis in South Gate. My life began to brighten again. That first visit was really enlightening. When first met my social worker, Adrienne, she walked me through the myriad paperwork with ease, and she had an abundance of personality. Next I met the technical staff and nurses. They were all so knowledgeable and caring, and I could see that they had a good working relationship with one another. This place had a warmth that I had not experienced at my last clinic.
The dietician, Elizabeth Krok, was working hard to monitor my food and drink intake - information that I hadn’t paid attention to before.
Lastly, I met the brightest pearl of them all - the clinical manager, Rachel Nicolos. With the team at Satellite Dialysis, I can easily say that, having confronted my life's darkness, it is now bright as a pearl.
With this article I would like to say thanks to Satellite Dialysis in South Gate as there is no longer darkness in my life, but a new pearl prevails!
I will end with the definition of three words that I used in this article:
- Darkness: A state of denial and ignorance of my own life's condition
- Brightness: A willingness to study and become more enlightened on my life's condition
- Pearl: Satellite Dialysis in South Gate
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