Home dialysis has become a way of life for this Regina couple

WATCH: The SHA says Sask. now has the highest rate of deceased donors in Canada, which is good news for a Regina couple on the waiting list. Mick Favel reports.

A Regina woman who is on dialysis six days a week continues to wait for a suitable kidney donor.

Belinda Leibel was diagnosed with kidney failure in 2023. Since then, she has been using different forms of dialysis to keep her body in working order.

Her wellness and way of life has been impacted by the new routine.

“Right now, I feel like I’m climbing a mountain. I start to do something, simple things and then I have to take a break, then I regain myself,” Leibel said.

Belinda is assisted by her husband, Brett Leibel.

Together they took a six-week training course on how to operate a dialysis machine.

Now they have their dialysis sessions from the comfort of their own home.

“Whether it’s setting the machine up, or putting the needles in her fistula, the whole process is important from start to finish,” Brett said.

Although there is much more convenience having a machine in their home, they do advise there are many factors to watch for. There are nurses on call if an issue takes place.

Earlier this year, after much testing Leibel officially got on the kidney transplant list.

Leibel has a cousin who would like to donate her a kidney, but they are not a match, because of this, they joined the Saskatchewan Kidney Paired Donation program. The program allows for a mix and match, which will happen when a suitable pairing for Leibel joins the program.

According to the Saskatchewan Health Authority, there are typically 50-60 people on the transplant list at any time.

The average wait time for a transplant is two and a half years.

As of April 2025, 31,332 people have registered to donate.

Leibel is hopeful she will get the call for a matching donor in the near future.

“I’m looking forward to doing simple things. Being with my granddaughter. Participating in life,” she said.