“After Oscar introduces hisself to us. My husband, my niece Hope, and myself I asked him if he lived close by the gas station.” I replied ,” Mrs.Halona , the gas station around the corner here from the Kidney Trails Dialysis Clinic, correct?”… “ Yes Dwelyn, just listen!”He mentioned that he does now but not always have . You see a few years prior to you working here Dwelyn ,Oscar’s wife was a renal patient here. She was the love of his life. They dated all throughout high school and throughout college out of state. Oscar and his wife were from Providence,RI. They moved here to Phoenix close to 6-7 years ago. Oscar got a great job offer with the local Pharmaceutical company that was known nationwide. His wife had her own cleaning business, so they both were well off. They had a son , but he committed suicide a couple of years prior to moving here out West. Phoenix was also a new start with new beginnings. They were moving on with their lives supposedly. The last 3 years here have been very tragic for the both of them .Oscar got laid off from the Pharmaceutical company and his wife suddenly fell ill and was diagnosed with ESRD. Oscar mentioned she was a diabetic but managed it quite well. However while she was at work cleaning one of her clients house, she slipped and fell off a ladder while cleaning a window that was non reachable close to the stairs of the two story home. She broke her hip and right leg. Oscar was devastated. His wife on the other hand was always in great spirits. While his wife was admitted in the hospital, unfortunately she caught a bloodstream infection that affected her kidneys and caused them to decline in function slightly. At first she was just in the Acute stage of renal failure , but her condition grew worse. Oscar remembered the day when the Nephrologist confirmed that his wife was in Stage 5 Renal failure and would have to be put on Hemodialysis immediately. They both were distraught , but remained high spirited to fight this disease together. Even though deep down inside, Oscar was a nervous wreck. Not only was he unemployed from the Pharmaceutical company, his pension was running low and with hospital bills , etc…. the funds were quickly declining. His wife could no longer work so with all that being said they ended losing their home they bought that was located further north of Phoenix.They received little assistance, but it wasn’t enough. Good thing is the apartment complex they moved into was close to the Dialysis clinic here where she later became apart of our family. I remembered her first day of dialysis here. I was on the second shift and was waiting in the lobby to be called back to the treatment floor. Their were a few of us waiting as well. About 5-6 of us laughing and talking about who’s working, what games are we going to play while on dialysis. We loved bingo because they gave away good prizes, and when we can hurry up and get dialyzed and get it over with. You know Dwelyn , I’ve never met a patient who wants to come to dialysis. We come because we have to if we want to live. But it’s still a matter of choice. Anyway, Oscar came walking into the lobby kinda startled. We knew he was new but didn’t know what he was there for. He had this look on his face as if the world came crashing down on him. It was with great sadness and despair. He was looking for a wheelchair in the waiting room area. He found one and took it outside. I recalled when he came in the clinic, he kinda looked familiar but my mind was a blur. It bothered me to a point I was in a daze . Then it came to me….. I mumbled to myself “ Oh!”…. The other patients around me said ,” Mrs. Halona are you okay?,,,” I said,” Oh I just burped! Lol…. Anyway as Oscar came back in , was pushing a woman in the wheelchair with her hair kinda stringy, and she had an old thin blanket , and a brown paper bag that was very wrinkled. She sat there very quiet and just looking around. Not saying much of anything. Oscar sat down beside her holding her hand as they waited. So I figured that she must’ve been new. After me fully recognizing him , I wheeled to him and said softly,” Hey you remember me from the gas station a few days ago?”… “ He lit up and said ,” Yes I do!”…. “ Honey! “ as he said to his wife. “ This is the lady I met the other day that gave me the sandwich that I brought back to us. “ … she replied” Oh Thank you sooooo much!”, “ It was delicious.” I replied ,” You’re very welcome.” …. So after talking to them briefly , my Dialysis Tech called me back to my chair in the Bahamas Pod. “ So I told them both ( chuckling) ,” Well it’s my time to go back and face the music”. They both waved happily and said ,” Well I hope the music is great because we have to face it too.”….. As I started my treatment , within 20 mins my Tech wheeled in Oscars wife next to me into the empty chair. I said “ Hello neighbor , how you like the music?” Lol ….. she said ,” Oh my it’s loud and busy here.” , “ Not like the hospital. Where are the beds for us to lay in?” … I replied well , you’re in for a treat. Once you get settled and get started with your treatment I will feel you in on all the details and the low down of our clinic. Don’t worry , you’re in great hands here. By the way my name is Belle, Belle Halona, what’s yours? She replied my name is Naomi, pleased to meet you.
To Be Continued……
Kidney Trails 