The NKF Holiday Pages —All people remember dates that are important birthdays, anniversaries, etc for people diagnosed with Kidney failure this date stays with you. For me it was Saturday 22nd October 2005 at the age of 49 years old.
When I first diagnosed in 2005 it was a double whammy as 5 days later I was diagnosed with Multiple Light chain Myeloma Cancer I thought I would not able to travel again. Nothing stops me now when I’m fit. I keep telling my Doctor that the Cancer will not kill me but I will get knocked over by a bus first! Know I say it’s going be an Airbus?
October 2006
This was my first time that I could travel after my diagnoses. I visited the Dominican Republic during October 2006. This was six month after having Stem Cells Transplant and chemotherapy This was my first time abroad after being diagnosed with renal failure 12month earlier. I dialysised at the Hospiten Bavaro. I was very apprehensive at first before I arrived there as not knowing what to expect. These doubts were soon cleared when I arrived and was hooked up on the machine. I was the first person from my local Hospital back in the UK to travel to Dominican Republic for Dialysis and hopefully not the last.
The arrangements I made with Jacquelin Reuz at the Hospital we kept in touch with all the developments of my visit.
There are 5 machines clean tidy air-conditioned room.
Dr Sanchez made a special trip from the other Hospital in the group especially for me to be on hand if there were any problems. The nursing staff Rosemary spoke Spanish and little English. Elizabeth translated for me.
They were first class I will be back to in future.
November, 2007
Returned back for my second visit. Staff welcomed me back and again so friendly.
March 2009
Third visit to the Hospiten Bavro, Dominican Republic. My Wife Linda attended every time with me and sat next to me all the time. There is a waiting room across the corridor. Jaqueline Ruiz every time a have gone to there hospital she as been great in keeping me informed of what is going on before I travel. Communicating with my self and my own hospital Coordinator.
She has informed me since my last visit that they are having trouble to find a Doctor for treatments so you will have to contact her to confirm Dialysis still can take place there. This is a great country and the people are some of the friendliest you could ever meet. Remember to live you life to the full and when and where you can travel to do it.
The treatment room is very clean and as 5 stations don’t let other people put you off I have sent about 12 people from all over the world all have sent me reports back of how much they have enjoyed their stay here for treatment on my recommendation. The staff keep a check on you every hour taking blood pressure etc in between watching you asking if you are feeling OK.
I will still go back to them if a Doctor is allocated and I still keep in touch with Jaqueline and Rosemary.
Keith Booth, 16th June 2011
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