B次元官网网址淵ou can reschedule a doctorB次元官网网址檚 appointment, but you canB次元官网网址檛 miss dialysis. ThatB次元官网网址檚 a life-saving thing.B次元官网网址�

Gail Irving says this moments after getting home from driving Rob to the airport. Around 11:15 a.,. Wednesday morning (Nov. 17) she got a call asking that Rob be there by noon. The 79-year-old is getting flown from Chilliwack to Abbotsford to get dialysis, and heB次元官网网址檚 not alone.

B次元官网网址淗e just phoned me from the airport and told me there are more than 20 patients, just from Chilliwack alone, waiting for a plane,B次元官网网址� Gail said. B次元官网网址淚t was a bit of a rush to get him there.B次元官网网址�

Not more than a month ago, she talked to The Progress about the lack of a renal unit in Chilliwack, wondering why it was that people from a city of near 100,000 people had to drive to Abbotsford for treatment.

With flooding now cutting off the two cities from each other, Rob hasnB次元官网网址檛 had a dialysis treatment since Saturday. Normally he gets treatment every two days. Four days removed from his last treatment, Rob needed medication Wednesday to keep his potassium levels under control and Gail admitted to feeling a lot of stress.

B次元官网网址淪o far he seems to be doing OK. HeB次元官网网址檚 not sick or anything,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淏ut I keep thinking about how IB次元官网网址檓 not doing dialysis for him at him at home, and I feel guilty. But I also think this is a clear indication of what we need here in Chilliwack, because this wouldnB次元官网网址檛 even be an issue if we had a renal unit.

B次元官网网址淚 was so disappointed when Fraser Health said they had no plans to do it at this point, and then we reach a crisis like this.B次元官网网址�

Rob is going to have to stay in Abbotsford until Highway 1 re-opens.

B次元官网网址淎t least heB次元官网网址檚 going to get the help he needs, and thatB次元官网网址檚 the most important thing,B次元官网网址� Gail said. B次元官网网址淎s soon as that road opens up, we can pick him up and take him back and forth. IB次元官网网址檇 like to be there with him, but for right now I donB次元官网网址檛 see taking a seat on a plane to go stay in a hotel room.B次元官网网址�

Contacted by The Progress, Fraser HealthB次元官网网址檚 Curtis Harling had the following response.

B次元官网网址淔raser Health is assisting a small number of Chilliwack residents who require access to dialysis services at the Abbotsford Community Dialysis Unit or Abbotsford Regional Hospital. We are coordinating air transportation and accommodations, if necessary, for these individuals. Our priority is to ensure patients with chronic kidney disease who require access to hospital or community-based dialysis services are taken care of and their needs met during this time. This is an ongoing situation, however, and contingency plans are in place to ensure safe patient care should there be any disruptions to care delivery.B次元官网网址�

eric.welsh@theprogress.com
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