Jesse.Tharin@f7.n300.z1.fidonet.org (Jesse Tharin) (11/21/90)
Index Number: 11939
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
Brad...
A friend of mine named Tom has a Leader dog (named Ed) and Ed is
getting to the point where he just won't wake up one morning, and Tom's
checking out the various schools. He told me that Leader won't accept him
because of his kidney failure, but was in general pretty vague about it.
Could you tell me more about this sort of thing? Is it because of his need
for a dialysis appointment every two or three days, or because of a short
life expectancy, or because of a high application rate for new students,
or something else? I'm not asking specifics here about any one person, but
I am very interested in understanding how the decisions TEND to go. I also
am afraid of asking you a politically dangerous question, and sure hope
you take this as a strictly straightforward one.
Jesse
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Internet: Jesse.Tharin@f7.n300.z1.fidonet.orgHenry.Kasten@p0.f33.n130.z1.fidonet.org (Henry Kasten) (12/01/90)
Index Number: 12113
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
Hi Jesse,You asked Brad about Leader dogs position about Dialysis
clients. I can't speak for Leader, but I am a Dialysis patient.
You said your friend had to have dialysis every 2 or 3 days. That
is called Hemodialysis. It is very hard on the body, it puts your
body in a state of shock. In addition to the shock, the 2 days
following dialysis, your body is building up poisonous toxins.
These make you feel like crap. If that is not enough, your kidneys
are responsible for the reformation of red blood cells, the things
that give you energy. If Tom is lucky, and has lots of money,he
can use a new drug called Epogen which helps form new red blood
cells. Insurance and Medicare will pay for some of it, but once a
patients Hematocrit (used to evaluate anemia) reaches about 30,
normal is in the upper 40's, they will no longer pay for it. I get
it at a discount for $107. per week. I am lucky! I have a good
job. Tom, would be the best person to decide if the training would
be too strenuous. Their are Dialysis clinics nearly everywhere,
and many operate at night so if he wanted he could go to train in
the day and dialysis at night. Unfortunately many people are
ignorant about dialysis, hopefully Tom can educate them. I am a
totally blind dialysis patient with a dog guide and yet I can still
manage to live a full and hectic life. I don't use Hemodialysis, I
use Peritoneal dialysis, that allows me to do it at home every
night. It is fast , easy, and I am not tied to a chair every 2 or
3 days for 6 to 8 hours at a time. I can travel anywhere in the
world with this system at a moments notice. It is great, yet only
a few people know about it. If Tom has any questions about it or
would like some advocacy in regards to getting into a dog guide
class, have him contact me. Henry
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Internet: Henry.Kasten@p0.f33.n130.z1.fidonet.orgBrad.Scott@f140.n150.z1.fidonet.org (Brad Scott) (12/04/90)
Index Number: 12157
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
I'll be more than happy to answer any question to the best of my ability.
As for dialysis, the closest machines to our center is at a hospital
15 miles away. The time and man power required to have an instructor
take an individual two or three times a week takes too much time away
from the training. It can virtually remove a day and a half a week
from training. We have accepted CAPD folks.
Let me hear from you again, Brad Scott
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