With every patient, there’s a story.
Each patient has a unique history, a wealth of knowledge and experiences which have shaped them. As caregivers, we are privileged to serve these patients and have the opportunity to share in the tales of their past. By listening to our patients, we learn more about them, ourselves and the world we live in.
Today, we’re honored to share Henry Hinton’s story with you.
In the 60s, Henry was a paratrooper, trained at Fort Campbell in Clarksville, Tennessee. After his first tour, he was certified jump status. He was also a member of the exclusive Screaming Eagles, the 101st U.S. airborne division. These days, Henry talks about jumping out of airplanes with a certain casual confidence.
“As a young man, it was something exciting,” he said. “And my older brothers were paratroopers, so I couldn’t come out of the service without being one too.”
One thing he learned from his military experience was how to follow orders. He said from day one, he understood that following orders was a necessity. And today, it still is for him.
“When I started dialysis, I had no problem following the ‘orders,’” he said. “I do the best I can to stay healthy now.”
Henry said when he was a young man, he didn’t worry about his health. And although he had a longstanding history of high blood pressure, it wasn’t until his first appointment with a nephrologist that he realized his high blood pressure was killing his kidneys. After a second consultation with a different nephrologist, he was able to delay the start of his dialysis treatment for three more years.
Henry has been on dialysis now for almost four years. Since being a patient with DCI, he has yet to miss a treatment, and he has never been late.
While every dialysis nurse can appreciate Henry’s punctuality, knowing his history gives us insight into how he views his role in dialysis care. Henry told us he’s doing the best he can. As we continue to listen to our patient’s stories and gain a better understanding of their needs, we also commit to doing the best we can.