IHD Member Harvey: HOME DIALYSIS PATIENT ADVOCATE RECEIVES KIDNEY TRANSPLANT

IHD Member Harvey: HOME DIALYSIS PATIENT ADVOCATE RECEIVES KIDNEY TRANSPLANT
2 hours ago

LAWRENCE, Mass.—Dialysis patient advocate Harvey Wells has successfully undergone a kidney transplant, bringing to a close his four years of frequent home hemodialysis with the NxStage System One.

Click HERE to view an image gallery of Wells’ travels.

Harvey Wells, 59, of Euless, Texas has been an advocate for the clinical and quality of life benefits possible with more frequent home hemodialysis with the NxStage System One. Since starting the NxStage therapy, Wells has traveled 60,000 miles across 40 states with his System One to raise patient awareness about NxStage's therapy.

"I feel extremely fortunate to have had access to home hemodialysis with the System One. Like many patients, I once felt that receiving a kidney transplant was my only hope for a healthy, enjoyable life. But with more frequent home dialysis, I felt that I truly had my life back," said Wells who, upon receiving a kidney transplant, visited NxStage Medical headquarters to celebrate his milestone with the Company and CEO Jeffrey Burbank. "I am incredibly grateful for the improved health the NxStage System One afforded me during my time as a dialysis patient, and which I believe enabled me to be healthy enough to receive my new kidney. Home hemodialysis isn't for everyone, but patients need to have better access and more awareness of this life changing therapy."

"NxStage is thrilled to celebrate this milestone with Harvey, who has inspired many patients to both adopt our therapy and become more engaged in efforts to increase awareness and access," said Burbank. "There is now compelling data in support of much better survival, improved clinical outcomes and improved quality of life for patients on daily home hemodialysis with NxStage versus conventional in-center treatment. We are pleased that our therapy not only allows patients to live better, healthier lives, but also may better position patients like Harvey for transplant success."

Four years ago, Wells was still undergoing conventional dialysis, visiting a dialysis center three days every week for sessions that each lasted four-and-a-half hours. The treatments and rigorous schedule often left Wells feeling fatigued and made traveling difficult. Wells later learned about the NxStage System One, a portable hemodialysis machine that would enable him to have his treatments at home on a more frequent basis. After completing training with his wife and trained partner, Peggy, he began dialyzing at home in spring 2007.

Wells said he experienced such a significant improvement in his health and quality of life with more frequent hemodialysis sessions he sought to share his story with other dialysis patients and their families to help raise awareness of the treatment option. An avid traveler and RV enthusiast, Wells took his NxStage System One "on the road," stopping at dialysis centers from coast to coast to invite patients to watch him set up his own treatments, answer questions and share his story, one patient to another. Wells received a modest stipend from NxStage for his efforts and travel expenses.

In 2007, Wells took his two young grandsons on a two-week road trip in his RV spanning 3,700 miles and 11 states. In the summer of 2008, Wells expanded "Grandpa's Road Trip" to a 51-day excursion covering more than 12,500 miles and 37 states, with stops at presidential libraries, national parks and other sites. In 2009, Harvey followed his favorite football team to every home and away game, traveling to Cleveland, Denver, Baltimore, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Detroit, Cincinnati, and Kansas City. In 2010 and early 2011, his travels continued through 16 states. Along the way, he dialyzed in his RV and visited more than 150 cities, stopping at dialysis centers to speak to kidney patients. Harvey also spoke with national and local media about frequent home hemodialysis and chronicled his travels for the broader ESRD community on Facebook and Twitter.

http://www.renalbusiness.com/news/2011/06/home-dialysis-patient-advocate-receives-kidney-transplant.aspx