Every day at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, lives are changed thanks to the care, expertise, and compassion of our healthcare teams and the generosity of our community. These are the stories of patients and families who experienced that care first-hand and wanted to say thank you. We’re honoured to share them with you.
For Andy Worth, life changed in an instant in 2021.
A ruptured aorta sent him to Halifax, where he spent three months in the hospital. It was the beginning of a long and difficult health journey—one that would eventually lead to kidney failure and dialysis.
Over the following year, Andy endured a series of setbacks. When doctors discovered his kidneys were failing, they explored every possible option, including peritoneal dialysis and surgery aimed at restoring kidney function. But despite every effort, his kidneys continued to fail.
By 2023, hemodialysis became unavoidable.
Three days a week, Andy spent four hours at the hospital receiving dialysis. The routine was exhausting and made everyday life difficult. His world began to revolve around treatments.
“Everything revolved around dialysis,” Andy said. “Work became difficult. Your energy changes. There are things you just can’t do the same way anymore.”
Dialysis took a real physical toll on his body. Andy lost strength and felt his energy slipping in ways that made everyday tasks harder than they used to be. The emotional strain was just as significant, as treatment hours pulled him away from work and his daily routines.
PEI’s new Home Hemodialysis Program – made possible through donor support – gave Andy the chance to learn how to safely complete dialysis treatments at home. After two months of training, the machine was installed in his home on loan.
For Andy, the impact was immediate.
Now, Andy completes treatments overnight while he sleeps, following a two-day-on, two-day-off schedule. That change allowed him to reclaim parts of his life that once felt out of reach.
“It frees up your life,” he said. “You can find a new normal.”
Today, Andy has been successfully managing dialysis at home for months with no complications. He remains active in the community, continues to work, and looks ahead with hope for a future kidney transplant. Above all, he is also deeply grateful for the care teams who supported him and the donors whose generosity made home dialysis possible for Islanders like him.
Thank you to all donors who help make this care possible for Islanders like Andy.
Then came an opportunity that changed everything.
