Flipside of a Dialysis Dependent Life

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Flipside of a Dialysis Dependent Life

posted (May 29, 2009)
 
Two weeks ago we went on the inside of a life on dialysis when we brought you the story of Keith Moguel. Both his kidneys had collapsed and the 22 year old was forced to leave his home in Mango Creek and relocate to Belize City to receive dialysis three times weekly at the Healthcare Partners Hospital. But as we told you, as bad as his condition is, Keith Moguel is one of the lucky ones because the government is paying for the cost of his treatment. He is one of only 20 people on “The List” – as it is called. The others either have to pay $580 for every session or do without. And that is exactly the situation Lloyd Beeks is in. Keith Swift has the follow-up to our story with the flipside to a dialysis dependent life.

Keith Swift Reporting,
Lloyd Beeks’ feet are swollen because he needs a dialysis treatment. But the 53 year old isn’t on “The List” – so he can’t get the badly needed treatment because he can’t afford it.

Lloyd Beeks, Needs Dialysis
“Right now I need it two times a week and I only do it one time a week. They used to charge $680 and now they drop it to $550 I think. $550 a week but they want me to do it two or three times a week and it is kinda hard.”

And Beeks cannot afford it because instead of working, the father of four now spends his days at home in his bed – weak and glum.

Lloyd Beeks,
“I can’t do nothing. Every minute I want to sleep. I am weak. I am a man who used to get up and do my own work, get up and do my own thing and depend on myself and I feel handicap like this. I feel like I can’t do nothing for myself. Sometimes at night you can’t sleep. Last night I didn’t sleep. To me is miserable. I just have to learn to live with it. I am trying to learn to live with it. It is very frustrating because I am a man who doesn’t like to beg nobody. I am a man who likes to get up and do my own thing because when you get out there and beg you get a lot of insults from people. People aren’t out there to help you.”

Lloyd Beeks began dialysis treatment in February after he suddenly fell ill. He didn’t have diabetes and blames it on pressure.

Lloyd Beeks,
“I was a big healthy strong man and it just happened like that. Just like that.”

Keith Swift,
Have you ever thought of giving up?

Lloyd Beeks,
“Yeah, sometimes. Sometimes it gets to you.”

But Beeks spends his days thinking, pondering, hoping, and praying for a miracle – which in this case would be the $550 for each treatment.

Lloyd Beeks,
“I pray a lot. I pray and I leave it to God a lot. Only he knows what he is doing. Sometimes I start to question him and those things but I don’t want to question him what have I done but he knows best for me.”

And as one of the unlucky ones –hope is all he has.

Anyone able to help can contact Lloyd Beeks at 602-6992. The cost per session for those not on the list has been reduced to $550. And speaking of the list, a patient on the list who was receiving dialysis died this week. That means there is an opening for one of the more than a dozen patients who need treatment but can’t afford it. The Ministry of Health will decide who gets that empty slot.

As for Keith Moguel, the news tonight is discouraging. He is still raising funds for a kidney transplant but he is running out of time and veins. He has exhausted all the veins in the neck region and he is now using the femoral vein in his leg. You can contact him at 621-7981 or Keith Moguel.

http://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=14103