The afternoon started with the taxi arriving at home at 13:30., the journey to Port Laoise was over almost as soon as it had begun. I was there for 13:45. Fifteen minutes? That was even shorter than the twenty minutes … Continue reading Coming home positive from dialysis session: first time in B Braun in Port Laoise
It doesn’t seem that long since I “graduated” from dialysis in Tallaght University Hospital to dialysis in the Midlands Regional Hospital in Tullamore. That event happened in June 2019. Since then, of course, we have had the year of Coronavirus which has skewed how time feels to have passed. There have been highs and lows whilst receiving care in Tullamore. I’ve had to fight HIV stigma (see this post). Some of that is still ongoing, some of the problems have been resolved. There’s still no social worker for the hospital in Tullamore (see what I did on that issue). That … Continue reading End of an era… new chapter begins tomorrow
The World Kidney Day 2021 position paper – Towards Patient-centered care for people living with kidney disease presents top line evidence, context and call to actions for anyone who wants to advocate for patient centered kidney care vis-à-vis decision-makers. Central … Continue reading Living well with kidney disease: towards patient-centred care
Yesterday, on 1st March 2021, HIV Ireland hosted a webinar to launch their new Media Reporting Guidelines, to help journalists and editors in how to talk about HIV and AIDS. I was fortunate to be asked to take part as … Continue reading Zero Discrimination Day 2021 marked by launch of Media Reporting Guidelines
Since the Covid-19 pandemic started last year, we have been restricting our movements in general in line with the guidance from the Government of Ireland. This morning, we have had to go one stage further. Andrew has not been feeling … Continue reading New challenge: restricted movements while husband self-isolates
On Monday 1st March 2021, I am pleased to have been invited to take part in a panel discussion as a guest of HIV Ireland at the launch of their new Media Reporting Guidelines. To mark Zero Discrimination Day 2021 … Continue reading Launch of HIV Ireland’s Media Reporting Guidelines on 1st March
Having had my first appointment with the National Transplant team in Beaumont Hospital in Dublin in January, I knew that I would be referred to their Infectious Diseases consultant and their Nephrologist before I could even think about being added … Continue reading Next stage in work up to transplant
All through the COVID-19 pandemic, those of us who are receiving kidney dialysis have been told by the HSE in Ireland that we are at very high risk (extremely vulnerable) of serious illness from COVID-19 if [we] are on dialysis … Continue reading Reprioritisation of dialysis patients for the COVID-19 vaccine
It is World AIDS Day, so it is time to share this video. However it is also 2020, so although kissing, hugging, sharing drinks, handshakes, high fives, smiles,1 and winks can’t transmit HIV, COVID-19 is another matter. Andrew McFarland Campbell … Continue reading World AIDS Day 2020
