As I walk away from AW to sit down at the computer across from her. I sit and pause and began to daydream:
“It’s funny to watch AW from a distance as she rests with her ear phones on jamming to her iPad. She’s looking around still in disbelief that she’s on Hemodialysis. For some reason I felt like I knew her for some time before now. It’s like Déjà vu , or something. Her spirit makes me feel so calm and with the urge to teach more. You know , share my knowledge with anyone who’s willing to listen. Compelled to teach if you will. I can only imagine how it feels to be new to Dialysis. Having to come here three times a week, 4 hours a treatment. Seeing the same faces, sitting in these uncomfortable chairs, staring at these walls, listening to all the people around you talking, loud music and/or loud televisions playing in the background. Blood pressure cuff squeezing your arm every time you take a breath. Staring at the clock as it doesn’t move at all. Shivering cold, hungry not knowing where the next meal comes from possibly, worrying about your bills. Rent is always due. Gas tank on D. Not E but D( Lol), Family depending on you for everything rather it’s financially , mentally , emotionally, and/or physically, etc…. Wondering if you’re going to be placed on the transplant list for a kidney, and pancreas if it’s required, wondering if you should determine if you’re going to eat or buy your medications, wondering if today is the day the new person sticks you wrong and infiltrates your arm, hoping that you get put on your correct treatment time, so you can go home and take care of that sick family member , constantly wondering about your ill companion that’s dying of Cancer, wondering if your lights are on when you get home due to you not able to pay your electric bill, hoping you get off treatment in time to catch the city bus on its last run, hoping that when you get home it’s safe and sound, it’s a possibility you may be experiencing domestic abuse, or…… If you’re homeless….. All these thoughts and then some as I sit here at the desk catching up on documentation which brings me to this next story I’m going to share with you from Mrs. Halona. Halona means “ Happy Fortune”. It’s a Native American name. Mrs. Halona was full of such wisdom. As she scoots by me slowly in her wheelchair , always smiling says,” Oh I’m so glad I’m finished with Dialysis. Dwelyn I’ll see you on Wednesday!”…. As I get up from my chair …” Mrs. Halona , I’ll push you to the scale to get your post weight.”…..she replies,” Oh my would you?”, “ I sure would appreciate it!”….. As I push her to the weighing scale, she extends her arms out to grab the metal steel bar that’s over the platform where our patients stand, she pulls herself up from the wheelchair as I assist her…she says fanning me away with her hand….” I got it. Just make sure I don’t stand too long because my knees will give out LOL!”….. I chuckled …..” Sure I got you Mrs. Halona!”….. I wrote down her post weight which was 76.5kgs( 168.3 lbs) I also handed it to Dicyn who was her Dialysis Tech today. As Mrs. Halona sits down back in her wheelchair…. Or should I say slump , she takes a deep breath and says…” Whew, that was a major task !”( snickering)….” Dwelyn, would you mind pushing me out to the lobby?”, “ My buddy Oscar is out there waiting on me.”… “ Sure thing Mrs. Halona.”…… As we exit the treatment floor , out to the lobby,… There’s a homeless guy waiting and smiling at us. “ Thanks Dwelyn, I’ll take it from here.”
To Be Continued……..
Kidney Trails 