Since being diagnosed with acute kidney failure approximately seven years ago, local resident August Miller's health progressively worsened to the point where he was required to make frequent and regular trips to Prince George for necessary treatment.
Because Miller's kidneys fail to adequately filter toxins and waste products from the blood dialysis treatment, which is used to provide an artificial replacement for lost kidney function was required.
Then late last year Miller's health worsened to the point where he was required to have more regular treatments in Prince George requiring him to stay away from home.
During his treatment in Prince George he jumped at the chance to participate in patient training sessions to learn to operate a hemodialysis machine.
By learning to operate the machine he could remain at home and continue with his treatment on his own.
Miller, who was previously a paramedic said he was a star student, learning how to set up and operate the complicated machine in just two weeks.
"Most people are in the training centre for two to three months learning," he said.
"I told them I wouldn't need three months to learn, but they didn't believe me," he added.
Once a patient is hooked up to the hemodialysis machine [dialyzer] via a catheter, waste products such as creatinine and urea as well as free water from the blood are able to be removed. When the kidneys are in renal failure this treatment is one of three renal replacement therapies offered to patients and it is a treatment that is able to be carried out at home.
Miller was able to return home on Dec. 12, 2010, along with a hemodialysis machine and continue on with his daily life, giving himself the treatments three or four times a week.
"There is a lot to it, it is scary looking, but it really isn't," he said.
The trainer and a technician accompanied Miller for the initial set up of the machine and organized the necessary electrical and plumbing that the machine required.
Miller's daughter painted a room in his basement that would be his own home treatment room. Shelving and storage also went up and medical supplies are neatly packed away.
On his wish list is a new, more comfortable chair to sit in for the four and a half hour treatments.
"I have to save up for that," he said.
He chose not to have a television in the room as he likes to hear the machine working incase any adjustments need to be made.
"Some patients do this at night and sleep during the treatment, but I like to see what's going on."
On dialysis days Miller gets up for treatment at 5 a.m. "This way my treatment is over at 9 or 10 a.m. and I have the rest of the day to do what I want," he said.
Miller chose to put the machine, which is on loan from the hospital, in a clinic like room in his basement rather than in his living room or bedroom for a good reason.
"When I am finished with my treatment I can walk out of the room, shut the door and forget about it. The people who have their machines in their living room or bedroom always have to see the machine ... you are always reminded of it, but I don't have to be reminded this way," he added.
Once a month Miller has his blood taken to assess his progress on the machine and so that doctors can make any necessary adjustments to his medication.
Miller is also required to fill out a daily log and record the information from his treatments on a chart and is also responsible for ordering all of the supplies such as saline, heparine [a blood thinner] and syringes.
"It is quite a big deal, I am my own lab technician, I take my own blood and take it to the lab," he said.
He went on to say that he has already taken his blood work to the lab once in the time he has been looking after himself at home and the results came back fine.
"The way I look at it is that having this machine at home gives me a life. It gets me out of the house after I have finished a session, then I can shut the door and walk away. It slows down the progression of my kidney failure."
"I want people to know that there is option A - to sell your house and leave your friends and family and move to Prince George for treatment, or there is option B which is to come home and do this."
"They have a really good support system for me in Prince George and the trainer is great. She is available if I ever need help."
Miller's hemodialysis machine is the first one in 亚洲天堂 Lake, but there are 150 machines in B.C. and there are 15 at home patients on machines between Houston and Fort St. John.
"You can't kill yourself on it, there is a step by step process to follow. It is a lifesaver, it enables me to get out and about and live life as best as I can and as normal as you can. It is important not to give up," he added.
