“Blood was rushing down my arm like water coming out of an open faucet.
I had just finished a dialysis session and my wound hadn’t properly closed because I was rushed out of my chair to make room for the next patient. For a moment, I didn’t know if I was going to make it out of the clinic alive.
I lost both of my kidneys in 1989 due to high blood pressure. Just as my body began shutting down, my older sister Connie donated one of her kidneys to me. Her act of love saved my life.
That day in 2011 after I finished my treatment, the staff said my wound had stopped bleeding and I could leave. But just as I stood up, I noticed blood rushing down my arm. When the technician noticed the pool of blood, he ran over to help. We both applied pressure to the wound until the blood clotted. It was frightening to think I could have bled to death that day.
Soon after that experience, I asked my doctor if I could do dialysis at home. I went through the training, and now I hook myself up and run the machine. When I’m at home I take my time and go through every possible precaution. Even with home dialysis I’m not 100% safe, but I would rather be in control than be at the mercy of a corporation that doesn’t care about me. When caregivers have too many patients and not enough time, our safety is on the line. I will not take that risk.