Kidney Health Month shines light on donor needs and home dialysis impact on quality of life

CTV London's Reta Ismail spoke to transplant patients in dire need as March marks Kidney Health Month.

This Kidney Health Awareness Month, the London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) is hoping to spread the word about home dialysis and its impact on quality of life.

Turning on a hemodialysis machine inside their bedroom has become a regular nightly routine for Bonnie Field and her husband.

She was diagnosed with kidney failure 20 years ago.

“They tried a number of medications and treatments, but things progressed to the point where I needed either dialysis or a transplant,” explained Field, a patient in the Regional Renal Program at LHSC.

Field ended up getting a living kidney from her youngest daughter, but sadly, lost it within 24-hours due to a blood clot in the kidney.

“I had to eventually have my precious kidney that I had just received, I had to have it removed. And that started my journey with dialysis,” said Field.

She began in-center dialysis treatment for six months – three days a week, for four-hour treatments.

“As I stabilized, my doctor asked me if I would be interested in doing home dialysis, and we jumped at the chance,” said Field.

Field eventually received another kidney from a diseased donor, but it only survived for a year. She said she has now come to terms with being on dialysis for the rest of her life – however, she said home dialysis has made a massive difference for her quality of life.

“It is so freeing, and it’s made me feel so much better,” explained Field.

“When I was in-center, I would get cramps in my legs. I would come home with a headache and go right to bed; I did not feel well.”

Former CTV News Journalist, Cristina Howorun, can relate to Field’s story. She too has had a living donor kidney transplant, but unfortunately after five years, it failed last year, after she contracted COVID-19.

She’s now back on at-home hemodialysis.

“I hook these all up to the machines, and this is kind of how I live now,” said Howorun, as she showed her blood cords that are a permanent part of her body.

“I am lucky that I’m able to do this at home. And if I had to go in-center, I wouldn’t be able to continue working.”

Howorun, a full-time journalist in Toronto, said her immediate family has been ruled out as a match, she’s now putting out a plea for a living donor with type O blood.

“I’m on borrowed time right now, and that’s the reality, and I really do want to keep living,” she said.

LHSC said they: “Can’t provide an exact cost comparison between in-clinic and home hemodialysis treatments, the health human resources savings are in excess of 30 per cent when patients take part in at-home treatments. The cost of home hemodialysis equipment in Canada may vary from province to province, ranging in price from $15,000 to $30,000, sourced through funding by the Ontario Renal Network.”