Pendleton 'wonder woman' marks birthday milestone at Salford Royal
20:00, 2 March 2015 By Danielle Roper
Delia McAteer, now 50, is believed to be one of the UK's longest-surviving dialysis patientsA woman believed to be one of the UK’s longest surviving dialysis patients has turned 50.
Delia McAteer was born with only one kidney, which had to be removed when she was just 17 after it failed.
At the age of 18, Delia had a transplant but her body rejected the new organ and created so many antibodies it prevented her from having another transplant for the rest of her life.
She has now been dependent on a dialysis machine for more than 33 years and is believed to be the longest surviving patients to have had such treatment continuously.
With her regular hospital visits, Delia, of Pendleton, is a familiar face at Salford Royal, which held a party to mark her landmark birthday.
Staff raised money for the celebration themselves by selling cakes.
Audrey Hyde, advanced nurse practitioner in renal medicine, said: “Delia really is our wonder woman.
“She is an inspiration to so many and has taken an active responsibility for her own health and that is what we want to celebrate.”
Delia now attends Salford Royal three times a week for four hour sessions of haemodialysis, a life-saving treatment which removes and filters waste products from the blood before the ‘clean blood’ is passed back into the body.
Originally self-dialysing at home for several years, she now needs medical assistance due to her veins struggling to withstand the continuous treatment.
Determined to use her experience to benefit others, she offers moral support to nervous new patients.
She said: “I have just had to accept my condition and learn how to cope with it.
“At one time, you were only expected to live for five years on dialysis, but it’s all about looking after yourself and sticking to a strict diet. I have always been a very determined person and even though I might eat something I am not supposed to every now and again as a treat, I do look after myself.
“I am not sure how I would have coped without my mum though; she is so loving and caring and she helps me out a lot.
“My advice to anyone just starting dialysis is ‘go for it’. Don’t refuse it and make sure you look after yourself.
“It is getting harder for me now, but I have learned to accept it and just get on with my life.”
She’s also full of praise for the hospital staff.
“They are brilliant, they’re really good to me,” she added.
“We do have a laugh together – you’ve got to, haven’t you?”
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/local-news/pendleton-wonder-woman-marks-birthday-8749112
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