Unit applauded

Dear Mr. Behan:
I would like to take this opportunity to respond to Mr. Bekeris’ comments regarding the dialysis unit that was published in last week’s Times.
Yes, indeed, Mr. Bekeris, I have heard of the nursing shortage. Have you heard of end stage renal failure? Those facing this condition have three options: dialysis, a transplant, or death.
The establishment of a dialysis unit here is based on a sound and thorough assessment of need. Once completed, the unit will be able to handle 24 patients. Currently, there are 20 patients in need of this service–and the need will only continue to grow.
I would be most interested in finding out what Mr. Bekeris considers to be “a few.”
The suggestion that the trip to the nearest machine could be assisted is just plain ludicrous. I suppose that Mr. Bekeris would think that such a trip is no big deal because the Portage la Prairie General Hospital, in the city where he lives, does provide dialysis service.
Patients on dialysis require treatment three times per week. From this area, this would mean a four to five-hour trip each way to Thunder Bay. Some local residents are currently doing this while others have had to move.
Sadly, others have died.
I cannot believe that anyone would refer to dialysis as a “toy.” Perhaps some time spent at his nearby dialysis unit would prove educational. This toy is life and death. For many, there is no other choice.
Yes, Mr. Bekeris, I do have a personal interest in this. My father was diagnosed with kidney failure a number of years ago. My dad had quit smoking years ago, ate a healthy diet, and exercised regularly. In short, he lived a very healthy lifestyle. If this condition could strike him, it could strike anyone, including yourself.
My dad did not end up requiring hemo-dialysis because of the courage and generosity of my sister, Lisa Morden, who donated a kidney to him.
Quite honestly, you do not deserve to have your name appear on the same printed page as hers. Consider yourself honoured.
The need for dialysis could be greatly reduced if more people filled out their organ donation cards and made their wishes known to their family. The best hope for most kidney patients is a transplant but not everyone is as fortunate as my family has been.
But even with more donors, there will still be those who cannot receive a transplant. They will always require dialysis.
I would encourage everyone who reads this to sign that card. You never know whose life you may save, including potentially even Mr. Bekeris’, but that is a risk you will have to take for the greater good.
I applaud the Aboriginal Dialysis Unit Initiative, Riverside Foundation for Health Care, and all of the rest of the bleeding hearts who worked so hard to make the dialysis unit a reality here.
Yours sincerely,
Darryl Allan
(A proud squeaky wheel)