WHEN I started hemodialysis I was 31 years old and I was the youngest among such patients. This is a serious disease.
Foto V. Mitrić
Too heavy. I fight with all my might as much as I can. It is true, however, that doctors and medical staff are the angels of our lives. Nothing for us without them. God bless them for all time. This may be best understood by those of us who have been suffering from a serious illness for a long, long time, but we are alive and we know that life is really beautiful and that we should fight for it. Life always deserves a fight.
This is how Snezana Kandic (61) from Sabac, a brave woman who has been going on dialysis for three decades, speaks for “Novosti”. First twice, and in recent years three times a week.
– I didn’t know I had a kidney stone. After some time, I had surgery, but the consequences remained severe. Both of my kidneys stopped, and it turned out that I was born with one that was much smaller than the other – Snezana’s story.
– Those were the times of obscure, unclear diagnostics. They are not even close to these today, when, say, through ultrasound and findings, a complete picture of the condition of the kidneys is created.
Snežana is grateful to the staff at the Sabac Hospital, Photo by V. Mitrić
Our interlocutor remembers the beginning of dialysis, in 1991, which coincided with difficult times, with the beginning of the war on the territory of the former SFRY.
– Years of sanctions and bombings followed. Basic material was often lacking.
But our head sisters fought, like lions, to provide for everything even when it was hardest.
I am always grateful to them – this brave woman from Odžak is honest.
After three decades of going on dialysis, Snezana believes that the action for bequeathing cadaveric organs is of great importance, which, as she says, is currently a bit quieter due to the pavidemic of kovida 19. She has been a candidate for transplantation for a long time, but so far, 30 years , not invited.
– My father wanted to give me a kidney for transplantation, but it turned out that he had some cysts on them and he couldn’t – says Snezana, preparing for another hemodialysis in the Sabac hospital, whose ward became her second home a long time ago.
– My attention was touched when they remembered in the hospital that I had completed 30 years of hemodialysis. They gave me a bouquet of flowers and best wishes, and I gave them and their families.
For the staff and doctors headed by Dr. Dragan Stanković Tošković, the head of the Nephrology Service with dialysis, he says that they are exceptional people who perform 17,000 dialysis sessions a year!
– Now it is incomparably better, with the equipment, we also have an excellent, comfortable space, wonderful care and attention of the staff. We used to have a cramped space, we worked in three shifts, with shifts, there were barely a dozen devices. Now there are more than thirty of them, and they are the top ones, who brought light to all these troubles – says Snezana and says that she is most worried that, unfortunately, many young patients join them in the ward.
Taught, as she says, with her 30 years of experience, she appeals to everyone to, at least once a year, do all the analyzes and ultrasound of all organs.
– People should know that, while they are healthy, they should drink as much as five or six liters of fluid. We can’t do hemodialysis, it’s limited for us – says Snezana.
– I have always been disciplined and listened to the advice of doctors and staff for a more successful and easier fight with the pain I carry. Well, that gave results. And we patients exchange valuable experiences with each other. Medicine has advanced a lot in 30 years and people should not neglect their health and, God forbid, get into the situation we are in. Prevention is most important. At the time I got sick, the diagnostics and everything else were at a very, very low level. That is why people should use the current chances. Don’t be late!
FAMILY SUPPORT IS MOST IMPORTANT
SNEŽANA Kandić is also the patient who goes to hemodialysis for the longest time in Šabac, and probably in Serbia and the region. She lives in a wonderful family with her son, daughter-in-law and two twin grandchildren, Helena and Kristina, whom she is proud of and adores. And those on my grandmother, showing, although small, a lot of understanding for her. True, Grandma is not demanding either. She is cheerful and who doesn’t know her, wouldn’t even think that her kidneys stopped three decades ago.
– Thank you all for your care, care and understanding, but for a life like mine, the support of the family is crucial and most important – says our interlocutor.
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