Martin Macrae, from Inverness, spent six days travelling from Fort William to Inverness by canoe, dialysing everyday using a portable dialysis machine. The aim of his trek was to not only raise awareness but to show how freeing it is to be on home dialysis and not having to come into the hospital.
Thanks to his fantastic effort the renal unit at the Inverness hospital has been able to buy another portable dialysis machine.
Already in use this piece of kit now means a Highland patient, who wasn’t able to home dialyse before, no longer needs to come into hospital for dialysis.
Chris Ridden, Home Haemodialysis Sister for NHS Highland, explained that patients on dialysis do have the option of being dialysed at home but, due to the size of the equipment needed and necessary alterations required to their property to accommodate a kidney dialysis machine, not everyone is able to.
She said: “Being dialysed at home rather than having to come into hospital can be life changing for renal patients. It can be done for a shorter length of time meaning they have more time to themselves.
“With more frequent, shorter sessions patients are likely to feel better so their quality of life will improve and they are likely to live longer.”
Ms Ridden explained that these machines cost about £25k, half of which came from the canoe fundraiser and the rest from the renal unit endowment fund.
She said: “There are now three patients within Highland who are using these portable dialysis machines, Martin being one of them.
“Our third patient, Chris Forbes, is only able to home dialyse using the portable machine and I can’t thank Martin enough for the effort he has gone to in raising this money for the unit. To do what he did while still on dialysis is an amazing achievement.”
Mr Forbes, 33, from Inverness has been on dialysis for nearly four years. Home dialysis was not an option for him before due to the size of the kit involved but he is delighted that he is now able to dialyse at home.
He said: “The freedom you get by being on home dialysis can not be under estimated, I am now able to live as normal a life as possible thanks to this.
“I was previously spending every second night away from home being dialysed for six hours, with home dialysis I can dialyse more frequently for shorter periods of time. Myself and my partner can be a couple again as I’m home. I’ve got my life back.
“Martin did a fantastic job in raising awareness and fundraising for the unit. I can’t thank him enough for this great gesture.”
Mr Macrae is already thinking of what he can do next to fundraise and raise awareness but he is delighted that a fellow renal patient has had their quality of life improved with home dialysis.
He said: “I couldn’t be happier for Chris, the difference home dialysis can make to you is remarkable.
“I am already contemplating what my next fundraising activity will be but I really want to thank everyone for all their support during my canoe trip. It was a real morale boost receiving messages of support from across the country and even around the world.
“I would also like to thank Macrae and Dick for the vehicle, John Munro Slaughter House for the food and Explore Highland for the training. Without their support I wouldn’t have been able to do this!”
