Salt Spring woman seeks help to pay for dialysis

Sandrea Samuels, a 37-year-old resident of Salt Spring, St James, is desperately seeking assistance to pay for dialysis.

Samuels, a former housekeeper who is now unemployed, currently undergoes dialysis treatment at a private facility, as she says the Cornwall Regional Hospital's (CRH) dialysis unit is full.

"I was diagnosed with renal failure, or kidney failure, from about five years now, and it is very hard to do dialysis treatment because they are saying the renal unit up by the CRH is full. So I cannot get to do the treatment up there, and I have to go to a private facility, but because I am not working, it is hard for me," said Samuels.

"They charge me $12,000 per session, and it is two times per week, on Tuesdays and Fridays, so it is $12,000 on Tuesday and another $12,000 on Friday. Sometimes I only go once a week, and one time per week is not good enough, because in two days' time the fluid goes down into the lungs and I cannot breathe," Samuels added.

Outstanding hospital bill

Her issue is further complicated by an outstanding hospital bill, which she had previously incurred for a medical procedure she underwent at the CRH to treat her illness.

"Right now, I have a tube which they inserted from the neck area and it comes out in my chest. I had a tube put in that had fallen out, so I went up to the hospital and they put in a different tube in my neck, and CRH said I had to pay for it, and it cost $53,000," Samuels explained.

"Even last week, they [CRH] called and asked me how the payment is going to go, and I said to them that nothing turned up yet. But even if something turned up, as soon as the money turns up, I would have to use it to go to the private clinic," said Samuels. "Now and again somebody will stretch a dollar out to me, but you cannot depend on someone stretching out a dollar to you, because things are rough on everybody. But if anybody is willing to give me any assistance, that would be good."

Persons who wish to assist Sandrea Samuels may contact her at 876-508-5530.