A change of pace

Patients at Hillel Yaffe Medical Center's Nephrology Institute have a tough daily routine, which among other things includes dialysis," said Dr. Noa Brar-Yannai, Director of the Nephrology Institute. "We're dealing with a group suffering from terminal kidney disease, which requires dialysis three and even four times a week. In other words, they can’t just pick up and go on a trip, because their medical condition generally makes it impossible. Some of the patients get around in wheelchairs, while others require nursing care. Most suffer from additional comorbidities that worsen their condition. Due to their disease, some of the patients can no longer even afford "luxuries" such as going on a trip or eating at a restaurant. That's why the staff and patients of the institute were delighted by the initiative of the Association for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Kidney Patients."

The trip was a rare opportunity for the patients to enjoy a change of pace from their exhausting routine at the Dialysis Institute (50-60 hours a month). They traveled around the Sea of Galilee and Mount of Beatitudes and enjoyed guided tours of several sites and a delicious lunch. The entire trip was adapted to their unique needs and took their health constraints into account.

The dialysis patients enjoying the trip.
Photo is courtesy of the Association for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Kidney Patients.