Woman wins battle against kidney diseaseBy Mike Gaffney/mgaffney@cnc.com
Thu Mar 12, 2009, 08:02 AM EDT
Saugus - Ask the medical staff at the Fresenius Medical Care North Suburban Dialysis Center on Route 1 North in Saugus to describe Lyria Ramos and one trait surfaces repeatedly — she is a fighter.
Over the last three decades Ramos, 46, has spent four hours every other day receiving dialysis treatments to keep her alive.
Ramos suffers from chronic kidney disease, an irreversible condition that affects approximately 26 million American adults. Her condition has advanced to the final phase of kidney failure, also known as end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
Patients such as Ramos require medical treatment in order to replace lost kidney function. Options include a transplant or dialysis — which is a mechanical filtering process designed to cleanse the blood of waste products and to draw off excess fluids.
In order to survive Ramos checks in to Fresenius Medical Care on Route 1 North three times a week for dialysis treatment.
Ramos has been receiving dialysis for 30 years, a milestone she surpassed on Feb. 22. To celebrate the landmark anniversary the caregivers at Fresenius recently presented their patient with a trophy — the Dialysis MVP Award — as well as a medal and tasty chocolate cake.
“Lyria is a remarkable individual and we wanted to do something special to celebrate the occasion,” said Jennifer Richmond Terry, the clinical manager at Fresenius.
Kidney problems have plagued Ramos dating back to when she was a young girl growing up in East Sandwich.
At the age of 16 Ramos learned she needed dialysis as a result of being born with undersized kidneys.
“I was in high school at the time and it was a major shock,” Ramos recalled. “I had difficulty accepting the diagnosis, I was in complete denial.”
Doctors started Ramos on dialysis treatments immediately while she put her name on the waiting list for a kidney transplant.
In 1982 Ramos got word that a kidney matching her blood and tissue types had been located in a potential donor. Surgeons proceeded to implant a healthy kidney from a cadaver into her body.
Unfortunately Ramos suffered complications following the transplantation. She soon discovered that her body rejected the donor kidney, meaning she was left only with dialysis as a life-sustaining remedy.
What is dialysis?
Nationwide approximately 400,000 people depend on dialysis for survival. Dialysis is necessary when malfunctioning kidneys are no longer capable of filtering out waste products from the bloodstream.
Two types of dialysis exist, hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.
Hemodialysis filters blood through a device that has an artificial membrane, while peritoneal dialysis uses the thin lining of the abdomen as the filter.
Karen Lofty, a social worker at Fresenius Medical Care, told the Advertiser Ramos is among the 120 patients who visit the facility for hemodialysis treatment.
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday Ramos carves time out of her schedule to receive hemodialysis at Fresenius. She has been a patient at the facility since 1992.
The process begins with a nurse or trained technician inserting needles into a patient’s access point to draw blood.
Blood is pumped through tubing to a dialyzer, where it is filtered and returned to the body, according to Terry.
“The dialyzer is an artificial kidney that acts as a filter,” Terry explained.
Besides cleansing blood of toxins the dialyzer also removes extra water that poses a threat to kidney failure patients.
Dialysis brings with it a host of potential complications, including infection, clotting, high or low blood pressure, protein loss and chemical imbalances.
In many cases patients also need to modify their diet and fluid intake. For example, on a hot summer day Ramos might have to limit her drinking to a small glass of lemonade — despite considerable thirst — to avoid generating excess fluids.
“Dialysis is a huge commitment for people and it takes a big toll on their bodies,” Lofty said.
But short of a transplant the options are limited for patients diagnosed with total kidney failure. Lofty noted that people who decide against dialysis face certain death as toxins continue to build up in the body.
A true survivor
What really impresses the staff at Fresenius Medical Care is Ramos’s upbeat mindset in the face of such difficult circumstances.
Nephrologist Dr. Louis Ercolani said he is amazed by the positive attitude Ramos has displayed during the course of her many dialysis treatments.
Ramos acknowledged the level of care she receives from the doctors and nurses at Fresenius helps make the dialysis experience bearable.
As a company Fresenius prides itself on providing its patients with social networking opportunities. Ramos said she enjoys the luaus and parties the company organizes for its patients.
Ramos said it felt good to know Fresenius took the time to celebrate the fact she has survived 30 years of dialysis.
At times the grind of the regular dialysis treatments can get frustrating, Ramos confessed.
When Ramos travels she has to make arrangements to visit unfamiliar dialysis centers, which can limit possible destinations because these facilities tend to be more spaced out in other areas of the country.
Despite the obstacles Ramos has found a way to live life to the fullest, counting Hawaii and Washington State as a few of the places where she vacationed.
Ramos has come a long way from the 16-year-old who was in denial about her kidney problems. She understands she needs dialysis to survive and doesn’t plan on giving up the fight.
“I’m still here and I’m doing OK,” Ramos remarked. “My advice to anyone with kidney disease is to stay strong and to never give up. You’ve only got one life to live and it’s worth fighting for.”
Taking action
March happens to be National Kidney Month. If you have history of diabetes, high blood pressure, or a family history of kidney disease you are at risk of chronic kidney disease.
As one of the nation’s leading network of dialysis facilities, Fresenius Medical Care encourages residents to take steps to keep their kidneys healthy and to detect early signs of a problem.
“The symptoms of chronic kidney disease are often overlooked,” said J. Michael Lazarus, MD, chief medical officer and senior executive vice president for Fresenius Medical Care. “Some of the early signs of CKD are feeling weak and tired, a loss of appetite, not sleeping, and not thinking clearly. Some people with kidney disease may not experience symptoms until the disease is advanced and they need dialysis treatment or a transplant.”
To learn more about chronic kidney disease risk factors, prevention and treatment, visit
www.kidney.org.
The National Kidney Foundation will also offer free kidney screenings to people at risk for chronic kidney disease. The Kidney Early Evaluation Program is offered to those at risk — anyone with diabetes, high blood pressure or a family history– to prevent kidney disease from becoming kidney failure.
The Kidney Early Evaluation Program is offered in a number of cities across the country on World Kidney Day, March 12. For locations and schedules, visit
www.kidney.org.
10 Critical Things Healthy Kidneys Do
Filter 200 liters, say 50 gallons, of blood a day, removing two liters of toxins, wastes and water
Regulate the body’s water balance
Regulate blood pressure by controlling fluid levels and making the hormone that causes blood vessels to constrict
Support healthy bones and tissues by producing the active form of vitamin D
Produce the hormone that stimulates bone marrow to manufacture red blood cells
Keep blood minerals in balance
Keep electrolytes in balance
Regulate blood acid levels
Remove drugs from the blood
Retrieve essential nutrients so that the body can reabsorb them
http://www.wickedlocal.com/saugus/news/lifestyle/celebrations/x599191902/Woman-wins-battle-against-kidney-disease
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