Orullue Miller has been navigating the challenges of End Stage Renal Disease (ERSD) for the past ten years. His story, like many others living with ERSD, is one of resilience, adaptation, and hope.
Mr. Miller’s journey began on a trip to Florida, United States, to attend a wedding. He said that as he rose to deliver the best man speech, his tongue felt heavy and he experienced a total loss of energy. Over the next few days, he experienced shortness of breath and noticed swelling in his fingers. A visit to the doctor revealed that he was in kidney failure. Miller said he was floored by the diagnosis. “The doctors asked me if there were family members who suffered from kidney failure and I said that my uncle had died from it. They said I had kidney failure and I blacked out,” he shared. Miller recounts that he was admitted to hospital in Florida and treated. After his return to Jamaica, he was put on dialysis.
ESRD occurs when the kidneys can no longer filter waste from the blood, leading to a buildup of toxins and fluids in the body. For Miller, his ESRD was tied to his long-standing battle with hypertension, and “sugar” which he said was controlled. He said that he neither drank nor smoked, two lifestyle practices that can put you at risk for kidney disease.
Patients with ERSD often face a long journey that includes frequent dialysis sessions, surgical interventions, and lifestyle changes. The financial implications are profound, with costs for treatment, medications, and potential lost wages placing immense strain on patients and their families.
“It is very expensive,” he says of dialysis as a treatment option. “People pass away because they cannot afford it.” Miller said that after six years of treatment, he approached the CHASE Fund for help with his dialysis. He said the doctor at the dialysis centre provided a letter to the CHASE Fund to confirm treatment and the Fund approved funds to subsidize his treatment. Mr. Miller receives dialysis two days a week.
Mr. Miller disclosed that when he could no longer work, he felt like giving up. The cost of his healthcare weighed heavily on his mind as well as the cost to maintain a healthier diet. He said through his faith in God and with the support of his family, he has persevered.
Click here to watch his testimony on YouTube.
