I took the opportunity to interview my mom since she is leaving with a chronic illness. My mom, Cecilia, was diagnosed with Renal Failure in 2007 and was placed on medications to help manage her illness. In 2012, her health deteriorated and both her kidneys shut down and was diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). She was immediately ordered to undergo dialysis. Now, she must does peritoneal dialysis treatment every night to be able to live a normal life.
As I interviewed her, she told me that for her 40 years as nurse she never thought that she will deal with this kind of illness in her midyears. She said its really hard for her to be active. The illness has rendered her physically incapable of handling most of her daily chores. She doesn't have that energy she used to have. She said she easily gets tired, her heart beats faster, she always feels weak, and dizzy. It's hard for her to work and often times falls sick and will call off duty. Her doctor has ordered her not to more than 3 hours a day. She said she always need assistance from family to survive and go through daily chores which she never thought she will need in her 50s. She mentioned that it brings frustration because of all the burden is on her family. She said anxiety has been a serious issue with this illness because death can occur at any time. She can critically get very sick and probably die so she becomes anxious.
When asked what she are is to health her health despite her disease, she said that she complies with the treatment the doctor has prescribed for her. She goes for frequent clinic lab works, follow nurses/physicians orders. and exercise. There are some foods that she does not eat due to her kidneys inability to excrete waste. She is cautioned to be careful with her potassium, sodium and phosphorus intake. She eat well so her albumin will be in the normal range. Her water intake must not be more or less than the required intake as prescribed because too much will cause overload since the kidneys cannot excrete. Too much phosphorus will make her bone brittle, vulnerable to falls and osteoporosis. In addition, too much or too low potassium will disturb her heart function.
She said it's been hard living with ESRD but what keeps her going is her family and the favor of God for her to make it through it. As she on the list for a transport all she can do is pray and wait.
