Healthy Living: Life on Dialysis

Recently, there’s been much talk about government’s decision to expand the National Dialysis Programme.  Tonight in Healthy Living, we take a deeper look at the challenges faced by those who depend on this treatment for their survival.

Marleni Cuellar, Reporting

When we see a man delivering flowers we think one of two things: “What a lucky lady” or “What did he do now?” This delivery though has nothing with either.

Veteran journalist, Glenn Tillett, is delivering a small gifts of thanks – specifically a thank you for saving his life.

The inception of this moment was over a year ago in February 2017 when Glenn was diagnosed with kidney failure.

Glenn Tillett

Glenn Tillett, Dialysis Patient
“I thought it was a death sentence. I thought it was frightening, horrifying because I knew that dialysis while available, it was not very accessible because it was expensive.  The cost at that time was well over a thousand dollars per week.  The first realization I had to come to was that my life had totally changed and accept that I had to have dialysis every few days simply to remain alive.  This became – to use the proverbial – the 800 pound elephant in my life’s room.”

Meeting the cost of his sessions was heavy on his pocket as well.

Glenn Tillett

“I remember getting up one morning and waking up and refusing to come for dialysis because at that point I didn’t have the money to pay for it and I did not want to have to be in that situation where I had to go beg for the service that I could not pay for.”

Nonetheless Glenn sought assistance. Others chipped in as well. In fact Glenn says that of the almost seventy thousand dollars he has spent on treatment since his diagnosis, as much as 50 thousand was donated and fundraised by friends and family.

Glenn Tillett

“Even when I realize that at some point that would run out as well, I had already become infirmed that being able to – I couldn’t work a normal and schedule and I couldn’t work to earn money the way I use to. So it was very depressing and if it wasn’t for the physical encouragement of people giving me money to help me pay for the cost and giving me the moral support, I probably would have stayed home in bed and just died.”

In October 2018, the Government of Belize officially expanded its national dialysis program. It is a welcomed initiative for some dialysis patients like Glenn and Diana Flowers.

Diana Flowers, Dialysis Patient
“They pay for two and my husband pay for one.”

For the past three years Diana and her husband have been paying out of pocket for two sessions a week. Now, she can receive dialysis the recommended three times a week. She is grateful that she will only have cover the cost of one session. But, Diana now faces a new challenge.

Diana Flowers

Diana Flowers

“I go to work because if I don’t go I don’t get paid. Social security pays some but I don’t get any from work. So I went for my check on Monday and they give me a letter that say disqualification of sickness benefits because I done mek the two hundred and thirty-four days.”

A session of dialysis takes 4 hours. At three times a week, that is three “half-days” away from a job. In Glenn’s case he retired as a journalist and takes on consultancies to survive. Diana is still hoping she can maintain her job and her benefits.

Diana Flowers

“The job is to keep me sane…. I done use to work and I think if I stay home I would just be depressed. My kids are grown and my husband works. I would just be me at home and I can’t deal with that.”

No one knows the challenges of these patients like Nurse Maria Ack. She’s been working with dialysis patients since 2002. She is the only internationally certified dialysis nurse and now manages Dialysis Del Caribe.

Maria Ack

Maria Ack, General Manager, Dialysis Del Caribe

“They’re struggle is a life and death. If you don’t have the money you’re not going to breathe that’s about it. If you don’t get your dialysis you die.  We realize that people don’t have money. People don’t have money. Yes, that is what’s required but if we can keep you on a diet and give you two time a week then why not? You can tell them three times a week but if they don’t have the money then what do you do?”

And when patients look for financial assistance they turn to the Kidney Association of Belize. For president, Oscar Itch, the ever growing list of patients is what concerns him the most.

Oscar Itch

Oscar Itch, President, Kidney Association of Belize

“I believe the government did a very good initiative in helping not just thirty but 88 almost all the patients at the time who had renal failure but I don’t know if it was the association having more awareness out there, but we have new patients being diagnosed too often. Too often that I see – I’ve been with the association since 2014 and I’ve never seen as much as we have now. How often? For this week alone I have one every day.”

And so the association continues to raise funds to aid those new patients who will need their help. And that’s why for patients like Glenn it’s important to take a moment to show appreciation for those who have helped him along the way of his indefinite journey.

Glenn Tillett

“The chances are I won’t live as long as you not just because of age and to a lot of people but instead to focus on the fact that I am still alive and I have the opportunity to enjoy life so to speak and to make the most of it. That is what I try to do, so to speak, trying to live until I die.”
If you would like to support the Kidney association of Belize you can contact the president at 615-7128.