“Blood going into the machine is coded as blue while the blood coming from the machine back to the body is in red. The other mechanisms are just to drive the blood so that it is not just your body that is purely driving the machine because it would strain the heart,” explains Kariuki.
He also has a fistula on his left forearm that was surgically created by doctors.
It connects an artery and a vein on his arm to create an arteriovenous fistula that will eventually replace the catheter on his collar bone.
“Sustaining that kind of system with the tubes inside you is not easy over time. Your body may reject the tube or get an infection and we have to get an alternative route of getting into his body,” says Kariuki.
“It is easy to connect the fistula to the dialysis machine,” he explains.
“But I find it hard to sleep because I don’t like sleeping on the left side because of the fistula on my arm and I cannot sleep on my right side because of the catheter,” says Martin.
A single dialysis session lasts four hours and leaves horrible side effects.
“The dialysis itself has some after effects for example headaches, fatigue, nausea, and mood swings. Sometimes he just wants to be alone so even psychologically it is tough but I have learnt how to cope,” explains Daphine.
Martin, who works as an art director for an advertising firm, eventually has to go back to work to earn a living.
And although it will be tough, he has little choice.
“We have to figure out how to balance because he has to do four hours of dialysis three times a week and his job is very demanding so we have to figure out how to adjust,” says Daphine.
Martin and his wife are equally determined to make the situation work for them.
They have already started the Help Donate a Kidney – Martin Gitonga on Facebook and are also using Twitter to raise funds for his treatment.
The couple has also been busy spreading a message of hope to those in similar circumstances.
“We would have loved to get kids at some point; if God blessed us with kids we would be very happy; I don’t think we can let the disease run our lives so whatever blessings that we can get would make us very happy,” says Daphine.
“We are also praying for a miracle,” concludes Martin.
To support Martin, you could make a donation via wire transfer or Bankers cheque made payable to:
Account Name: Martin/Daphine/Angela
Account Number: 0605384001
Swift Code: DTKEKENA
Diamond Trust Bank, Westgate Branch – Westlands
Or MPESA Number: 0700 462376 (Daphine Mungai)
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