 
|
Cruise Day 1, Cruise Day 2, Cruise Day 3, Cruise Day 4, Cruise Day 6, Cruise Day 7 Cruise Day Five Another day of relaxation and adventure on the high seas! On Thursday morning, the cruise ship anchored in Belize. Some of the Cruisers took the time to just R-E-L-A-X on the ship, while others planned more adventurous days. Mike and Lauri S went on an island adventure that included a zip line and tubing through a cave, Ken and Cathy F did a Land Rover and cave expedition, and Jeff B went reef fishing. Lee S and his wife Nancy have been spending time at each of the ports of call exploring and learning about them. In Grand Cayman, they visited friends who showed them around the island and took them to a private beach. At Isla Roatan and Belize, they chartered tours to see the sites and hear about the history and culture.
Lee’s journey with kidney disease began in 2002 when his kidneys began deteriorating. By September 2006, his kidneys failed and he began in-center hemodialysis three times a week. For Lee, the draining process of that treatment made him feel “knocked out” the majority of the time. He also found it depressing to spend so much time in a dialysis center, surrounded by patients much sicker than he was. Fortunately, Lee’s nephrologist informed him about daily home hemodialysis with the NxStage System One and informed him that it would enable him to do treatments in the comfort of his own home six days a week. After training, Lee and Nancy were ready to begin dialyzing at home. The switch to more frequent dialysis made all the difference for Lee. He noticed his energy levels increasing, enabling him to spend more time with his five grandkids and do work around his house, such as mowing the lawn, even right after dialyzing! Lee credits his improved health on more frequent home hemodialysis with the NxStage system with helping to make him eligible for a transplant, which he successfully received in April 2008. Lee says, “I hope other patients like me are able to take advantage the health and quality of life benefits of this therapy.” A large group of the Freedom Cruisers went together on an excursion to the Mayan Ruins called Lamanai, which means submerged crocodile. After an hour ride to the New River, the group boarded a boat bound for the Ruins. Along the river, everyone enjoyed the subtropical rain forest’s trees, air plants, orchids, tropical birds, and a few small bats – but no crocodiles. Many said the boat ride was almost as impressive as the Ruins.
After a Belizean lunch, the group then toured through the temples and other Mayan structures. Four of the Cruisers, including Bill P, climbed the largest temple – the temple of the rain god – which is 112 feet high and 272 feet above sea level. The Mayan Ruins were an amazing sight that none of the Cruisers will soon forget.
Bill is definitely an adventurer and has not let kidney disease slow him down. He was diagnosed with reduced kidney function right after graduating college in 1985, but it wasn’t until 1990 – after a kidney transplant failed – that he needed to start dialysis. As an in-center dialysis patient, Bill considered himself a success story – he was able to continue working and traveled extensively. Despite his active lifestyle, Bill says he was still sick often and generally didn’t feel well, though he wasn’t fully aware of it at the time. In 2001, Bill began doing dialysis treatments more frequently at home, at first with traditional, in-center equipment. Since 2006, Bill has been dialyzing with the NxStage System One. “When I started daily hemodialysis, it was a revelation that I could feel that much better,” he says, “As a patient you can sometimes start viewing dialysis as the illness itself because it can be unpleasant, leave you feeling sick, even resentful. But I’ve found dialyzing more frequently helps me feel better and doing it at home gives me a sense of control over my health.”
Friday’s port is Cozumel, Mexico – stay tuned for our next update!
Disclaimer 
|
|
home 
