Patient stories: James Manning
Colonel James A. Manning is a very busy man. As a substitute high school teacher, he teaches science and language arts. He's secretary of his homeowners association in Lakewood, Washington, and guides an Amer-Asian family from Vietnam whom he has sponsored since 1982. He enjoys cooking and many other hobbies. He also does home hemodialysis.
When James began in-center dialysis, he quickly realized it meant much time away from home, and he felt debilitated after his treatments. So, he researched his therapy options. He discovered home hemodialysis, and decided to give it a try. James was one of the first people to dialyze at home using the Aksys PHD®. In February 2007, the PHD was taken off the market and James switched to the NxStage System One™ machine.
James dialyzes in a space at home where comfort and convenience come first. "I dialyze five days a week, and I spend that time doing things I enjoy. I spend time with my wife, talk to friends on the phone, use my computer and listen to my favorite music," he explained. "I take Saturdays and Mondays off so that I can go to a (University of Washington) Huskies game if they are playing."
Since James began dialyzing more frequently, he's enjoyed an increased appetite and feels much better. He's also off all blood pressure medications.
In addition to all his other activities, James is an enthusiastic and generous supporter of patient education. He's actively involved in a seminar series for dietitian students from Washington State University in training at Madigan Army Medical Center's Renal Center. James and his wife also participate in a variety of patient education programs on daily home hemodialysis. James is featured in the National Kidney Foundation's new "Home Hemodialysis" education brochure, as well as here on Home Dialysis Central.
"It is important for others to see and know the progress that many of us have made by using the modality of daily home hemodialysis," James added.