Frackville man reunites with dialysis team after kidney transplant
SUBMITED PHOTO - Christina Schew RN, Melanie McIntyre RN, Erika Swartz CCHT, Terry Diak RN FA, Bob Whitmer RN, Morganna Pastucka Home Nurse, Natalie Zuber CCHT, Jessica Sweeney RD, Becky Faust MSW, James and Cathrine Blackwell (seated) celebrate being reunited on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024.
FRACKVILLE – A Frackville man reunited with a key part of his care team months after he received a kidney transplant.
James Blackwell stopped by the DaVita Frackville Dialysis Center in New Castle Township, near the former Schuylkill Mall, last Wednesday.
While undergoing dialysis, DaVita says Blackwell grew close with his care team at the Frackville center.
He treated with DaVita from October 2023 until July 3, 2024, when he received a living kidney donation from his sister.
Last week, Blackwell and his wife ventured back to Frackville Dialysis to reunite with the team that provided life-sustaining care to him for three days a week, for up to four hours per treatment session.
Approximately 30,000 Pennsylvanians diagnosed with kidney failure are currently on dialysis.
As of July 31, 2024, 5,810 Pennsylvanians were awaiting a new kidney. Kidney transplantation is considered the best treatment option for kidney failure because it eliminates the need for dialysis.
Because healthy adults can live with only one kidney, living kidney donation is a potential solution to long transplant wait times.
To learn more about DaVita, kidney disease and living kidney donation, visit davita.com.
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