Cruise Day 1,  Cruise Day 2,  Cruise Day 3,  Cruise Day 4,  Cruise Day 5,  Cruise Day 7

Cruise Day Six

On Friday, the ship docked in Cozumel at the Puerto Maya pier. Cozumel – whose name comes from the Mayan for “land of the sparrow” – is the third largest island in all of Mexico. The island is beautiful, with white sandy beaches, turquoise waters, and coral reefs just off the coast. The popular activities for the Cruisers were shopping, snorkeling, and hitting a beach to enjoy the warm and sunny weather.

A group of twelve from the Freedom Cruise visited Chankanaab Park, which is filled with activities and sites, including snorkeling, botanical gardens, swimming in the Caribbean, Mayan arts and crafts, and encounters with dolphins and iguanas.

Jim S and his wife Claire spent several hours enjoying most of the park. Jim has always been active and independent, but when his kidneys failed in 2007, Jim began treatments in-center three times each week. Though he found the center staff to be wonderful, it was not a place Jim wanted to be. The treatment schedule caused him to cut back on some of his hours as a salesman, which involved a changeable schedule and much travel. But the most significant motivation to learn to do dialysis at home was personal independence. “I wanted to be able to say when and where I’d do treatments,” he says. Jim and his trained partner, Claire, completed training and began doing daily home hemodialysis with NxStage in July 2007.

Jim says that he now feels better physically doing dialysis more frequently, but the most significant benefit for Jim has been the flexibility and portability. Not only does the couple spend one half of the year in the Seattle area and one half in Georgia, they also enjoy traveling. Motorcycle enthusiasts, Jim and Claire have even been able to take the NxStage machine and supplies in a trailer attached to the motorcycle for short trips. “At-home dialysis involves a bit more time spent on the machine and a bit more work on my part,” he explains, “but that is part of the compromise for feeling better and being independent.”

Jim and Claire S ready for adventure at Cozumel’s Chankanaab Park, including snorkeling.

Ken F and his wife Cathy also enjoyed spending time at Chankanaab. For Ken, it was mainly relaxing and enjoying the warmth and view. Cathy explored most of the attractions.

Cathy and Ken F relaxing under one of the hut cabanas.

Several years ago, Ken would have never thought he would be able to travel like he is doing on the Freedom Cruise. When he was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease and was advised that his kidney function was reduced and would fail within the year, Ken decided to pursue a long-time dream and took a 10,000 mile motorcycle trip across the U.S. with a friend. “I felt like once I had to start dialysis, my life was going to change and I wouldn’t be able to have adventures like that again,” he says.

For Ken, the most important part of being a NxStage user is the freedom he has been afforded. “Being able to travel with dialysis has given me a sense of freedom back,” he says.

After a relaxing day on Cozumel, the Cruisers once again gathered for dinner together, and afterwards several decided to go to a lounge for karaoke. Jim S did a fabulous rendition of American Pie, getting the audience members to join in the chorus. And, Rich B, sang a song most of the Cruisers can relate to, with the ending line, “I did it My Way”.

Jim S and Rich B lending their voices to Karaoke Night.

Saturday is a day at sea, as the ship makes its way back to Miami. Watch for our next update soon.

Disclaimer
Home daily therapies are not for everyone. They require a patient and partner who are committed to being trained on and following the guidelines for proper system operation, as well as their dialysis prescription, which may require treatments up to six days per week. The NxStage® System One™ is a prescription device, and, like all medical devices, involves some risks. Patients should consult with their doctor to understand the risks and responsibilities of home and/or daily hemodialysis using the NxStage System One. The experiences reported here may not necessarily be experienced by another patient. All patients differ, and their experiences will vary.