Tell that this community is one of the most vulnerable during the pandemic, find out how to collaborate
Everything was going well in the life of Luis Díaz-Medina until in 2017 he was diagnosed with kidney failure and the doctors told him that he would need dialysis.
This treatment helps to eliminate harmful substances in the blood since when the kidney is affected it can no longer fulfill this function.
Right away, this 51-year-old man from Los Angeles started attending the sessions. “I have to go three times a week and each dialysis lasts four hours. It is necessary because without that we no longer live ”, he explains.
He adds that he cannot be absent because if he does so, water accumulates in his system and he could become intoxicated. In addition to her illness, she also has diabetes and vision problems.
For this reason, he says that he was concerned when the pandemic arrived, since with the coronavirus he became part of the most vulnerable population. “With COVID-19, we couldn’t go out at all just for treatment,” he says.
However, in April he learned of an organization that was providing pantries to dialysis patients in South Los Angeles.
“That has helped me a lot, especially since I don’t have a salary,” adds the native of Mexico City, who lives alone and has no family in this city either.
“It was terrible [intentar hacer compras]. You went to the supermarket and there were no things or you had to wait in long lines to enter the store. I was thinking and thinking how I was going to do it. That help fell from the sky ”.
On behalf of my second mom
The initiative that led to reaching out to this community was born from Esmeralda Blanco — a 28-year-old girl whose grandmother also underwent dialysis treatment.
“For my brothers and for me, my grandmother [María Luisa Ramírez] It was like a second mom. Three years ago they detected kidney failure and she had to start her treatment but she also had diabetes, heart problems and Alzheimer’s, “she told La Opinion.
“My family and I took turns going with her. She took up to four sessions a week that ranged from three to five hours [cada una]. When [estos pacientes] they finish sometimes they are very exhausted or hungry. In our case, we always had food ready for him. She was never alone, ”she added.
However, he says that when he accompanied his grandmother to the sessions – before the pandemic – he witnessed the needs that dialysis patients go through, since many of them attend alone.
Mrs. Ramírez passed away in 2019. It was for this reason that when the coronavirus crisis began, she felt like helping dialysis patients and the organization “Grandma Luisa’s Gift” was born.
“Just at the time that the mayor [Eric] Garcetti gave the order to close everything, I saw the photo of my grandmother on my phone and I said to myself: ‘You have to do something.’ I started collecting funds and in two days I was able to deliver the first 20 pantry bags to patients I knew, “he said.
But from March to September that aid has multiplied. Esmeralda says that they have already managed to distribute more than 1,500 bags of food and has a help list of 130 people, from at least five centers.
Although a third of the bags are distributed at the Baldwin Hills Dialysis Center, the rest are distributed at home by Esmeralda and 10 volunteers who help her in this task.
Food such as beans, rice, oil, eggs, cereal, among others, but also antibacterial gel, masks, razors, soap, shampoo and other cleaning supplies are in the pantries.
Distribution is done every two weeks in homes located in downtown Los Angeles, Huntington Park, Lynwood, Compton South Gate, Watts and Montebello.
Esmeralda says that the ages of the people she helps range from 27 to 91 years old and that 90% of them are Latino.
The young woman, who is a volunteer at the hospital and who wants to be a doctor, says that most of the patients with kidney failure in these centers are low-income, live alone or do not have enough help because their relatives work.
“They cannot carry heavy things, walk a lot or expose themselves in stores,” says Esmeralda, who today is seeking donations to continue giving a hand to this vulnerable community.
“I believe that in the time we live we should be kind to others without expecting anything in return,” he said.
Community in need
Rosa de la Rosa says that her mother received the help of Grandma Luisa’s Gift and that it was like a respite in the middle of the crisis.
He indicates that his mother was a dialysis patient for six years and that he also had diabetes, a pacemaker and could not walk. This year when the pandemic hit, her sister and niece (with whom she lives) were left without work and she had to take care of everything.
“I found out about this on Facebook and even cried when I saw the publication. By God, I felt a huge pleasure ”, he confesses.
His mother came to receive help for three months and a week ago she passed away. De la Rosa says kidney failure patients are in dire need.
“This disease changes your life. Many are low-income, use cane, wheelchair. Several do not eat or cannot be attended because they are blind [por la diabetes]. I was glad to hear about this organization because they not only care about the food but also call them to see how they are doing. “
To help visit the Grandma Luisa’s Gift Facebook page or visit the GoFundMe portal HERE.
Latinos are the most exposed
Regarding people with kidney failure, Ian Shapiro – Altamed’s medical director of health and wellness – told La Opinion that those on dialysis treatment have an immunologically unprotected organism and that they also tend to have more infections than other people.
“They have to take good care of themselves, they can’t stop taking the medicine and, although leaving puts them at risk, they can’t stop going to dialysis either,” he says.
Explain that the most common disease to end up with a kidney problem is diabetes and blood pressure — ailments that are very present in the Latino community.
The expert recommends that people with kidney failure maintain their social distancing, always wear a mask and have constant hand washing to take care of the coronavirus.
However, he emphasizes that one of the most important things for this population is to take care of their diet.
“Your diet is very important. Soft drinks should be avoided [con azúcar], chips or foods with large amounts of calories, carbohydrates or things high in salt, because it can alter the pressure, “he says.
Dr. Shapiro explains that care is necessary to avoid complications, even with COVID-19.
“The kidney problem with a weak immune system, since there are not many antibodies because the white blood cells do not work very well, they push the person to get sick more easily”, he points out.
Medical reports indicate that this is why they are more likely to end up hospitalized and that is why they must take extreme hygiene measures.
