Published May 19 2010
International Falls woman fails to hitchhike but succeeds at publicityAn International Falls woman aimed to publicize the need for a kidney dialysis center in her hometown Tuesday by trying to hitchhike to the closest dialysis center, 102 miles away in Eveleth.
By: Beth Jett, Fox 21 News
EVELETH — An International Falls woman made a unique statement to point out the need for a dialysis center in her hometown.
Pam Baumchen, a diabetic, tried to hitchhike to the center closest to her, which is in Eveleth, 102 miles away. She says it’s an expensive trip she and others from International Falls can’t afford to make — but can’t afford not to make.
As her husband, Arnie, wheeled Pam Baumchen out the door of a dialysis center in Eveleth, she murmered, “Bad day… Bad day.” She had just completed four tiring hours of dialysis.
“I have to be there. In order to live, I have to make that appointment,” she said.
Arnie Baumchen, who has his own medical problems, had to drive her to the clinic when her cheaper plan to get there fell through.
“I was fully determined to hitchhike,” Pam Baumchen said. “I just wanted to get the word out there that there is this need.”
Koochiching County Commissioner Chuck Lepper said, “I’ve been working on it for going on two years.”
He said he approached two providers of dialysis centers in Minnesota, DaVita and Fresenius Medical Care, to set one up in International Falls.
He put an ad in the local newspaper asking who would use it. He said 15 people responded and Davita seemed interested, but then decided against it last July.
“In my mind, it’s a matter of money,” said Lepper.
The money in question is about $1 million, the quoted cost to build such a center.
But the two companies are already getting the business from those who must have the treatment to live, like Pam Baumchen, even though it’s killing her budget.
With gas prices at $2.83 a gallon and inching up, the three trips a week cost them nearly $5,000 a year.
“That’s just gas, that’s no eats,” said Arnie Baumchen.
“I’ve burned through our grocery money,” said Pam Baumchen.
She said she’s angry but knows it may be temporary. Her daughter agreed to donate a kidney to her, so she hopes she’ll be off dialysis before long.
Lepper said he won’t give up on his fight to bring a dialysis center to International Falls.
Fresenius and Davita did not return Fox 21’s calls for comment. By the way, there is a dialysis center just over the border in Fort Frances, Ontario, but Medicare won’t pay for treatment there.
Tags: daily updates, iron range, international falls, news, health
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