I live in the small community of Mirror Lake, and I have kidney disease.
When I was told I was sick, it was a shock. But when I was told I had to move to Trail, it was a worse shock. I tried living in Trail, but I couldn’t stand it.
Living in Mirror Lake is far better therapy for me, but for 16 years I’ve had to drive to the Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital in Trail three times a week! It’s a long, exhausting, three-hour drive each way. Usually, I leave at 3:45 a.m. and arrive in Trail around 6:30 a.m. In the winter I drive slowly due to dangerous road conditions and the presence of wildlife.
It would be far better if I could drive to Nelson instead. A hemodialysis unit in Nelson would make my life so much better. My worst problem is cost. While I am grateful for the help I get from the government, the price of gas has soared, and I was forced to buy a new car because of the mileage I have to drive. So, I spend $900 a week on gas and maintenance. I paid more than $250,000 over the past six years, and the government subsidy I receive doesn’t cover this cost. BC Renal and Interior Health should establish a hemodialysis unit at Kootenay Lake Hospital for renal patients living in the Nelson-Creston riding, who, like me, are undergoing debilitating physical and financial hardships.
Linda C. Barrett
Mirror Lake
