As Mr. Wilson walks off and onto the exit of the treatment floor…. AW, looks to see him out of her peripheral vision……” OOO wee Dwelyn, I don’t want my arm to get that big.” “ Is there a way you cannot get those big Ol thingy things , I mean Aneurysms on your arm without me getting stuck everywhere on my arm? “,” It’s the pain of the sticking that gets me!” ,” Sheesh , can the Dr give me those tubes to put in my chest instead?”. “ I think you said it’s called a catheter?…… I replied with laughter ,” Well AW, the best option is to rotate your sites, but we could also try establishing a buttonhole procedure for your arm.”…… AW replies,” Dwelyn did you say what I think you said?…. I replied chuckling “ No not that AW , Buttonhole!”. “ That’s a procedure where we will stick you in the same hole on your arm each treatment, 1 1/2 to 2 inches (5.08 cm) apart for about 2weeks with a sharp needle and then once the holes are established, we will then continue to cannulate you with a dull needle in which it will be less pain.” “ We will just have to peel the scabs off each time prior to your treatment before initiation.”…… AW replies,” Okay I guess we will cross that bridge when we get to it. I should have about an hour and half on this machine give or take, huh?…. I reply ,” Close to it “….
As I continued to talk to AW and while documenting her vital signs, I get a slight tap on my shoulder from behind. I turn around, and it’s a patient I haven’t seen in a while. “ Hey Dwelyn how you have been Bruh?” I reply with extreme excitement…” Oh, my how you have been ?”…” It’s been awhile since we’ve seen you here. You were M.I.A.!, lol?”…… She replied, “ Well you know how I do bro man.”…….” Sorry for being rude.” ,” AW ,this is Cadence aka Patience Sustained. Cadence ,this is AW. “…… “ Peace be unto AW my Sista.”……” AW, replies ….” Howdeedo?”…. That means how are you doing in my native tongue. My parents are from Jamaica. Spanish Town that is”……. Cadence looks at me and then replies,” Dwelyn I like this Sista.”…… “ Well AW I’m originally from Tulsa,Oklahoma and grew up in South Philly. I visit both cities from time to time. My son is in Philly with his father for the remainder of his Thanksgiving break. So I see you’re new here. Well new to me. I’ve been gone for about two months. I left here in August to do home dialysis training, and it went okay for a while. And now I’m back.”….AW replies…” Wait a minute young lady. You said you have a son?”…” How old you be gurl?”…. Cadence replies,” I’m 27. 2+7 = 9. I like to define myself as Defined 9 , lol.” …… Okay I hear you gurl, get it.”…… AW, replies with a chuckle. “ Cadence so how old is your son?”…… “ He’s 16 going on 30. My Sista he thinks he’s my Daddy/ Man.” “ He’s such a protector of his mother.”…… “ He’s in High School here and will return in a week. He just got his driver’s license too, so it definitely came on time with the events that have been happening in my life these past few months. “……AW replies….” I see. Well at least you have a good support system with your son. Is he your only child?”……. Cadence pauses a bit……” Well……… My late daughter passed away three years ago. She had a severe heart condition at birth. She was very ill. In and out of the hospital from time to time. It was a constant struggle in our household. Her father had left me during a time when we needed him the most. He just couldn’t bare it. But he came back in her final year. He said something told him that he really had to be with us. AW, I’ve learned with most men, they can’t accept the reality of life and death. It’s in their nature to try to save everyone. He was in such denial. When Karma was born, I felt it was something not right with her. But she was a for sure blessing.”…… As AW tears up instantly……” Cadence I indeed know what it’s like to lose a child. We lost our third-oldest son Anthony in 94. That’s a parent’s worse nightmare. To outlive our children. Cadence I’ll keep you in my prayers…… Cadence replies….” Thank you, AW, I appreciate it. I wear her birthstone of a Peridot in remembrance of her. And I also wear her ashes around my neck in this necklace that was given to her as a gift by my spiritual godmother. It’s a Feng Shui Brass Wu Lou Gourd. “…. “Cadence ,that’s lovely dear. You have such a warming spirit about you that’s very welcoming. I like that in people. Cool Vibes I can dig. You mentioned you were doing this dialysis stuff at home. You didn’t like it?”… “ I mean this is just my first day and I have been here forever. So it seems. “…. “Ha Ha AW my Sista, I’ve been on dialysis for almost my whole life. I was diagnosed with lupus, Type 1 Diabetes, and I had a heart murmur. I’ve done peritoneal dialysis , but I contracted peritonitis. Wooooo it’s very painful and could be life-threatening. Being in and out of the hospital with all I got going on. On top of that, I suffer from hypertension also.” …….” The struggle is real , but I keep on moving on.” “ I have to for my son.”………” Wow, Cadence girl you’re a warrior. “…” So I just have to ask you this. Dwelyn mention your name aka Patience Sustained.”, and I just want to say I love your outfit .” “ That’s such a beautiful white dashiki top you have on. I adore that pink design around the collar. And those lovely navy-blue drawstring pants look comfortable and snazzy. And your head wrap with the hot pink roses is like the crown of a queen. “ Cadence smiles from ear to ear and replies ……” Thank you so much AW, that’s peace. Well these are my designs that I created. I make my own clothes. Thank you for the compliment. “ ….” Patience Sustained is my stage name when I perform at spoken word downtown on Thursdays. My crown as you would say symbolizes my name.”…… As she removes her head wrapped crown to embrace her appearance of her head with short thin hair as it complimented her deep dimples and bronze skin….….“ AW , I’m also a Breast Cancer Warrior.
Kidney Trails 