Dialysis patients welcome the holidays

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Joseph Pratt

[email protected]

A group of dedicated volunteers have made Christmas special for the patients of Dialysis Clinic Incorporated, with a festive party that was held in the Notre Dame Activities Building earlier this month.

The helping hands of many, led by coordinator Mark Moore, made the party a possibility for the patients.

Moore is more than a volunteer patient advocate representative, he is also a patient in the clinic.

“I’ve had kidney disease for over 20 years. I’ve had a transplant, which failed when I ended up with Swine Flu. I ended up on hemodialysis and I was also on PD (Peritoneal dialysis), which is done at home. I have experienced, pretty much, all of the things everyone in the clinic is going through. Because of this, they asked me if I wanted to be the patient advocate and, since I had already been helping patients, I decided to do it.”

Moore said that a Christmas party for the patients only felt right. He asked the clinic if he could coordinate one and Administrators told Moore if he could throw his party without any clinic funding, then he had their blessing.

According to Moore, nurses were dressed in festive costumes and volunteered their time to make it a successful event.

They also had support from members of the community, including Portsmouth Ambulance, Life Ambulance, Fork and Finger Restaurant, Notre Dame Schools, and more.

“We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to both Life Ambulance and Portsmouth Ambulance. Life Ambulance provided, at no charge, transportation to any patient that needed it. This enabled nursing home residents and others to attend who likely would not have been able to otherwise.”

Moore explained that the ambulance providers also donated shirts, gifts, and food.

This time of year can be challenging for the patients of the dialysis clinic and Moore said the party helped lift the moods of many.

“It was a wonderful time for the people to sit together, off a machine, and talk,” Moore said. “Everybody was thrilled to be together and celebrate the holidays.”

Moore says he is planning additional events and looks forward to providing uplifting moments for the patients. He continued to give all grace to the volunteers and donors, thanking them for making the holidays a more special event.

“To everyone that contributed in any way, what your generosity meant was that people with life threatening ESR (End Stage Renal Disease) were able to come together, some with family and some without, for a lighthearted few hours of good times and good food.,” Moore said. “I believe that, during this time, harsh realities of dialysis and other aspects of coping with disease did not take center stage. There were plenty of smiles and a ton of thank you’s from patients and their families and these belong to you, the donors.”

Reach Joseph Pratt at 740-353-3101, ext. 1932, or by Twitter @JosephPratt03.

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Submitted Photo A group of people celebrating the holidays at Dialysis Clinic Incorporated.
http://portsmouth-dailytimes.aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2015/12/web1_Untitled-1.jpgSubmitted Photo A group of people celebrating the holidays at Dialysis Clinic Incorporated.

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