Baani's Story
Baani came to the United States from India in the year 2000. She completed a course in nursing to become a Patient Care Technician. Baani, one of Grady's end-stage renal disease patients, has been working with the ARxC team for almost two years to find ongoing dialysis treatment for herself and the rest of the Grady Dialysis patients.
​
She is a small young woman full of compassion and love for human life. Baani believes that every human being has a right to live and every human life is important and nobody except God has a right to take it away.
​
Baani came to this country for a better future and a better life, but had no idea what was awaiting her. In the year 2003, she started having white patches on her face and began feeling tired like she was anemic. She went to the doctor to get checked where after a couple of visits she was diagnosed with End Stage Kidney Failure. Just listening to these two words, "Kidney Failure", shattered all her dreams she had coming to the United States. Since she was without medical insurance and unable to afford medical insurance to cover the cost of her dialysis, she decided to resist receiving treatment. In 2005, she started having severe pains all over her body. Within a short time her pain became worse, to the point where she could not walk on her own. She knew that this was all happening because of her kidneys but still did not go to the hospital to start dialysis because she could not afford it. In February 2009, after three years of suffering pain all over her body, (six years after being diagnosed with kidney failure), she fainted while driving a car. When she awakened she was taken to the hospital. There doctors asked her about her medical history and she told them she was diagnosed with Kidney Failure six years prior. The doctors did all the necessary medical tests and told her that there was no other way she could stay alive unless she started dialysis treatment immediately. While having dialysis treatment she began to experience many problems because of her lack of insurance coverage. Baani was upset and left the hospital without medical advice. After a few days she started feeling very ill and returned to Grady Hospital, knowing they had her medical records from her first diagnosis. The first time she was turned away as they told her that she was no yet critical to receive dialysis. They advised her to return in two days. She did and was by then feeling very ill. She was admitted to Grady Hospital in critical condition. She remained hospitalized for two weeks. From that time she started going to Grady Hospital Emergency Room every time she felt ill. After a few months of repeated visits to the ER, where she was given dialysis treatment, she was told that she would come through the Grady ER every week to receive her treatments. Baani was relieved with this news because with scheduled dialysis she saw her body pains gradually diminish. Slowly, she was seeing her life coming back.
​
She continued to get her care until in September 2009 the Grady social worker told her (and presented her with a letter) that she would no longer receive dialysis from Grady. Reading the letter brought tears to her eyes as Baani thought of all the pain and sickness returning if her treatment was stopped. Once again, her life was shattered.
​
It was then that a member of the ARxC team approached Baani and the other uninsured dialysis patients and asked to hear their stories. They were told that there were people who wanted to help them.
​
Baani believes that since ARxC has come into her life, life has been so much better. She was no longer alone and had the support of others who believed she should be allowed to receive dialysis care and live. With the help of ARxC and other supporters Baani and the other patients were able to extend their dialysis from one month to a full year. They have fought many battles and overcome many threats, but inevitably they continued to receive the dialysis care they need to keep them alive.
In July 2010, Grady Hospital gave the deadline of August 31, 2010 as the last day of dialysis treatment. Baani, the other patients, and other ARxC team members continue to work to find other treatment options. While some of the ARxC patients were provided dialysis care “in kind,‟ Baani and 21 other ARxC patients were granted another year of dialysis to be provided by Fresenius and paid for by Grady.
​
On September 1, 2011 Grady's contract will again expire. Unfortunately, this time Grady claims they cannot afford to renew the contract and that Baani and the other patients are to be considered patients of Fresenius. Baani is currently waiting to hear what Fresenius will do.
​
Baani believes that with the grace and help of God they will find a solution. Baani strongly believes, “Where there is a Will there is a Way.” She is hopeful, along with the other patients, ARxC, and Attorney Lindsay Jones that there will be a way to maintain dialysis treatment and preserve their right to life.
​
In the future Baani wants to go back to school and study Forensic Science. She also wants the opportunity to give back the love and help others in need, like she continues to receive when she needs it the most!
