Turn Around Time: Life On Dialysis 4l246s

Turn Around Time

Life on Dialysis

Dre’ Roundtree

Copyright © 2019 by Dre’ Roundtree.

ISBN:

Softcover eBook

978-1-7960-6319-6 978-1-7960-6318-9

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only. Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 10/04/2019

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CONTENTS

Introduction

Chapter 1 The Process Chapter 2 Complications Chapter 3 Therapy Chapter 4 Hemodialysis June 2014 Chapter 5 The Vision Chapter 6 The Call Chapter 7 Obedience

About the Author About the Book

Introduction

May 2006, I was working at Smithfield packing in Kinston NC as a line leader. I went to the restroom and suddenly caught a serious headache before I made it to the restroom. I ed out and lost my eyesight for approximately five minutes. I was scared because everything was black. Suddenly my eyesight came back. I then left work with my supervisor’s permission because I was unable to continue working. I went to the doctor the next day and they discovered my blood pressure was 200/180 and my kidneys were shutting down. I drove home frustrated because all of this was happening to me. The next day I was taken to the hospital and itted. Pitt Memorial was the name of the hospital at that time. The Dr. told me my kidneys were working on two percent and my body was deteriorating. I was so scared! They gave me thirty days to live and immediately started emergency dialysis to live.

Chapter 1 The Process

I had to do dialysis seven days a week, eight hours a day at home. My life has completely changed. Being confined to my bed every day for one year and two months heavenly monitored. This was very overwhelming to me. I had never experienced anything like this in my entire life, so I had to go through this and keep living. While being in the hospital for two months of knowing my situation, the Drs. came in my room the next morning with the bad news. The day before they looked at my numbers and was amazed that the kidney had made a turnaround overnight. I no longer needed Dialysis anymore and I was taken off. I cried and cried in thankfulness with a praying family, church and friends. “All things are possible through God” just have faith. I stayed off dialysis for eight years.

Chapter 2 Complications

I thought all of my problems was over. I started back hanging in the streets and partying. My diet was not good at all which included mainly salt. I was not taking care of myself considering having this condition. Therefore causing strokes as many as ten at a time. The last stroke was major which left me paralyzed on my left side. My speech was blurred, no control of my head along with vertigo. I was back in the hospital again. “I’m like, here we go again another issue”. But I could not blame anyone but myself. Now I began looking for answers, God like why is this happening to me? I was back on dialysis!

Chapter 3 Therapy

It was very tough getting my strength and balance right. It took me about two months two get back right with a lot of Dr. appointments and medications along the way. It was very intense and determination was the key to getting back to myself.

Chapter 4 Hemodialysis June 2014

My cousin Sarah Ingram drove my mom Rosemary Roundtree and I to the clinic to have a graft put in my arm for hemodialysis. I began talking to myself like “here we go again “Once the procedure was done at Fresenius Medical Care in Greenville NC, they scheduled me to start dialysis Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 5am-8am for three hours. Also I was working fulltime at Vidant Medical Center from 3pm-11pm. I refused to give up and let this set me back and get the best of me. God told me it’s not over just trust and have faith in him and my season will come. I asked God to please guide my footsteps in this journey like He always have.

Chapter 5 The Vision

My goal was to go through this process and vision myself receiving a kidney this time around and be done with all of this. This is my second chance at life and I’m not going to mess this up this time. Well, this time around I had to get up at four in the morning to get on the machines so my blood could get cleaned. Watching my diet was very important along with my salt intake and drinking plenty of water. Working fulltime and doing dialysis made me very tired but “I had to do what I had to do if I wanted to survive. God wasn’t done with me so I trusted the process and waited for the outcome.

Chapter 6 The Call

On October 11, 2014, I’m working my shift at work 3-11. I was making deliveries and saw my Eastern Nephology doctor in the hallway talking to another doctor, so I just spoke and kept moving and made my delivery. On my way back, God spoke to me and said stop and talk to your doctor Dr. Maxwell Fisher as I usually do when I see him. Little did I know the doctor who my doctor was talking to was Dr. David Lesser who would be performing my transplant surgery. Always listen to your inner voice, that’s God’s voice speaking to you. I received three calls that morning for a kidney. I was on the transplant list for three years and three months on October 12, 2017 my surgery was scheduled for the next day. I was so happy that God told me I was in due season, just be patient. The light will shine again and you will get on with your life my child. With the of my family aunt Dianne Henderson, Robert Henderson, Mary Ann Fleming, Johnny Flemming, my mom Rosemary Roundtree Chapman, Dwayne Chapman and other family and friends. Also church family for all their prayers. I want to say thank you! I love you all!

Chapter 7 Obedience

To all of you reading my life’s journey on dialysis, believe in God, pray and have faith. Be patient with the process and don’t get discouraged. I pray this book encourage all of you that is going through, stay positive. All things happen for a reason so God gets all the praise and glory. God is Good All the Time. I’m currently an “Advocate” I go around to different facilities speaking. I hope to be an inspiration to others!

After the Dialysis Treatments

About the Author

My name is Dre Roundtree and I’m 43 years old. I was born and raised in Ayden NC, now currently living in Greenville NC. I’m currently working fulltime at the hospital where I received the kidney transplant living a healthy and normal life. I’ve been dialysis free for two years and doing very well. I’m currently an advocate for different hospitals and dialysis centers.

About the Book

This book is an inspirational to inspire patients living on dialysis or waiting for a transplant. Encouraging to patients to have patience and not become discourage.