23-year veteran puts his struggle on dialysis into perspective

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23-year veteran puts his struggle on dialysis into perspective
Nov. 11, 2011  |   Comments
 
Written by
Chris Balusik
The Gazette staff

CIRCLEVILLE -- It should come as no surprise that someone with enough fighting spirit to get through three combat zones would be able to continue to fight through other challenges in his life.

That's been the case for area veteran Henry Lence, a 23-year Air Force veteran who served on flight crews in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. One of his biggest challenges, however, didn't come in the military -- it came three years ago when his kidneys failed.

Now, the 88-year-old is in his third year of three-times-per-week dialysis treatments at Fresenius Medical Care in Circleville.

Jean Cline, clinical manager for the practice, said Lence's an inspiration for many others undergoing the three- to four-hour treatments.

"I think he's a positive role model for the other patients, younger ones that express a desire to give up and just stop dialysis," Cline said. "We always say, 'Look, there's Henry. He's 88, and you're not close to that. You can live for years on dialysis.' We kind of use him as an inspiration."

Lence said it's never been in his nature to quit, and with a large family that includes four daughters, seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren that he wants to share as much time as possible with, he's not about to change his nature now.

"I guess it would be easy to give up, but I'm not going to do that," he said.

The kidneys serve as the body's natural filtration system, helping to rid the body of waste and excess fluids while also helping maintain the blood's correct chemical balance. When a person's kidneys fail, repeat visits to dialysis machines are needed to handle the kidney's functions.

"It's a whole life thing," Lence said.

Of his 88 years of living, 23 were spent in the service. Making a career of the military wasn't necessarily his plan when he enlisted during World War II, but that changed in 1949 when he was asked to give six more years. He joked that if they'd approached him a week earlier or a week later, he probably would have told them to let him out. As it was, however, he was in for the long haul.

"By that time, I was career (military)," he said.

Lence was a radio operator/gunner during World War II with the 8th Air Force. In the middle of 1950 when the conflict in Korea erupted, he found himself heading there as well.

"We were supposed to go to Puerto Rico for three years, but they said, 'Well, you're packed up so you might as well go the other way,'" he said.

He ended up completing 55 missions with the 98th Bomber Group in Korea before being rotated out in February of 1951 and starting an eight-year period in which he trained other radio operators in Nebraska and Kansas.

Then, at the end of July 1955, he was sent to Vietnam on temporary assignment for three months in the early days of U.S. involvement in that country, flying three missions as a communications specialist.

Having been a part of so much history throughout his years in the service, Lence naturally carries a lot of memories with him. Most center on the different plane crews he served on and the men that made those crews special.

The combat-related memories also have stuck with him.

"We had a few narrow escapes," Lence said. "The worst were the engine fires on the B-29s. We had two of them, and we didn't have much time if we didn't get them out. Fortunately, they got them out.

"I was actually at the door four times with my chute on, ready to go. That kind of sticks in your mind."

He never had to make the jump, however, then went on to several professional endeavors that included managing restaurants and stores and driving a truck until the age of 70.

Then, three years ago, came the news about his kidneys.

"It came as a shock to me," he said. "I feel kind of tied down week in and week out since I have to do the dialysis three times a week."

Despite the limitations his dialysis has placed upon him, he still remains as active as possible. He makes sure he gets his treatments in during the morning so he can hit the golf course during the afternoon, continues to be an avid fan of the New York Mets and Washington Redskins and, most importantly, draws inspiration from his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren who he says he "likes to be around, let's put it that way.

"I want to go on seeing them for a while."

http://www.chillicothegazette.com/article/20111111/NEWS01/111110318/23-year-veteran-puts-his-struggle-dialysis-into-perspective