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Lift-off to our holiday of a lifetime in the USA

By Amy Armstrong-Nunns

Amy and Matthew pal up with Mickey Mouse in Florida

F or me, an acceptable quality of life on or off dialysis requires the ability to travel. Being on holiday is as
important to a dialysis patient as it is to anyone else. We all need an escape. We all need the chance to
forget our every-day routines. I would even argue that a dialysis patient needs this more because we
have more to think and worry about.
Last year I was able to experience my ‘Bucket List’ holiday that I never dreamed could be possible. I
travelled to the United States to visit the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas and Florida. After a lot of planning and
discussions with travel operators, my husband and I hopped on a plane with my NxStage dialysis machine and
some supplies and headed to the happiest place on Earth: Disney World. I felt like I was seven years old again
and was treated like a Disney princess. After a day spent gallivanting around Disney, the thought of sitting down
for a few hours to dialyse was actually a welcome break!
And then on to the Grand Canyon where we took a helicopter ride and were able to see one of the greatest
wonders of the world from above, complete with a bottle of champagne.
The highlight of the trip was when we stopped in Las Vegas and renewed our wedding vows by none other than
Elvis! What a contrast to the traditional wedding we had back in England! I did my dialysis in the Bellagio Hotel
overlooking the fountains and eating room service and was truly the happiest I have been in many, many years.
Travel can be difficult to coordinate at times and there is a lot of additional ‘holiday stuff’ to arrange on top of
everything else. I was able to have my dialysis supplies delivered
to my various hotels along the way, but I still had to bring my
equipment along which was challenging at times. My husband
jokes that it took longer to organize our honeymoon than it did the
entire wedding, but I have had some wonderful experiences that
make all the hassle worthwhile!

I can’t come off dialysis as transplants are no longer a possibility
for me. I’m stuck on the dialysis treadmill which often feels like a
ball and chain. There is no escape. However, the ability to travel
whilst on dialysis is like a key that opens the lock and sets you
free. While you still need to dialyse, you can do it from the most
amazing places and have some serious fun!

I heartily recommend other people on dialysis to give it a go! Renewing our wedding vows in Las Vegas with Elvis
12 Autumn 2016 www.kidney.org.uk HELPLINE 0845 601 02 09