DaVita Dialysis hosts picnic to celebrate Juneteenth, kidney health

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Picnic and learning
DaVita Dialysis hosts picnic to celebrate Juneteenth, kidney health

By ERICA FACER, News Messenger

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

DaVita Dialysis combined its annual picnic for patients to coincide with Juneteenth as a way to raise awareness about kidney disease and treatment.

Juneteenth is a state holiday commemorating African American Emancipation Day on June 19, 1865.

African Americans are nearly four times more likely than caucasians to develop kidney failure, which requires dialysis or a kidney transplant, according to the National Kidney Disease Education Program.

The center, at 1301 South Washington Ave., held a backyard barbecue that not only featured food and fun but also information.

"It started as a picnic for our clients; then our social worker, Elanderia Rowe, decided to open it to the public," said Wendy Tellor, DaVita Dialysis administrator.

"High blood pressure and diabetes (which can lead to kidney disease) are very prominent in the black community," said Ms. Tellor.

There are 400,000 Americans on dialysis and several million on pre-dialysis, Ms. Tellor said.

"By 2010 those on dialysis is supposed to double," she said.

There are over 100 patients in Marshall on dialysis, prompting the opening of a second dialysis center on East Pinecrest Drive.

Risk factors for kidney disease include high blood pressure, cholesterol, tobacco use, obesity and family history.

"If we can teach the public things to do, we can prevent them from coming here, or at least postpone it," Ms. Tellor said.

One way to teach is by telling patients about the picnic and inviting them to bring their families, for the food and free blood pressure checks.

The menu featured low sodium and high-protein foods, such as grilled chicken, coleslaw and hard boiled eggs.

Dialysis patients are on a very restrictive diet, being careful of their fluid, phosphorus, potassium, salt and protein intake.

"We wanted to have a picnic theme, but within their limitations," Ms. Tellor said.

Betty Singleton was volunteering at the event, serving food to those who stopped by.

Ms. Singleton has been driving two dialysis patients to the center from Linden for the last year and a half.

She said it can take about four hours for a dialysis treatment, when blood is taken out of the body a few ounces at a time, run through a special filter that removes wastes and extra fluids, and then the clean blood goes back into the body. Most patients go to a dialysis center three times a week, either on a Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday schedule or a Monday-Wednesday-Friday schedule.

"It's not a death sentence; there is hope," said Ms. Tellor.

Contact Erica Facer at efacer@coxmnm.com or 903-927-5964.
 
 
 
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