Dialysis services christened in Burin

Olive Fancy described it as a "wonderful day."
She was among those who gathered at the Burin Peninsula Health Care Centre Friday afternoon to celebrate the official opening of the new satellite kidney renal dialysis unit at the hospital.
The Burin resident was one of four patients who began receiving dialysis treatment when the unit became operational last month.
"When I leave here I kind of forget that I'm on dialysis for two days before I've got to come back again. So, it's great!"
Patrick Fewer of Marystown, another dialysis patient, wasn't sure he would ever see the day.
"It was a dragged out process, but it's here now. We have the government to thank, and the dialysis committee and the people of the Burin Peninsula."
Marystown Mayor Sam Synard, a co-chair of the Burin Peninsula Kidney Dialysis Committee, gave a brief history of the battle five-year battle, which finally culminated with the unit's opening.
He recalled a request from Shirley and Tom Coady to visit their house in Little Bay in September 2002 to talk about dialysis. The kidney transplant Mr. Coady had received several years prior had failed and he was back on dialysis.
Mr. Coady would pass away, but Mr. Synard praised Mrs. Coady, his co-chair on the committee, for continuing to champion the cause.
"This was Shirley and Tom's dream that we'd be able to come here in December 2007 and open this ward.
"I've done whatever I could to support this initiative, but Shirley was the ambassador. She's the poster child for this … and without Shirley Coady we would not be here today."
He suggested the true victors as not only those presently using the unit, but residents of the peninsula who might find themselves in the position to avail of the service in the future.
"I guess the real winners here today might not be even in this room.
"It might be your children, or your grandchildren, who will never have to face what Tom Coady went through, travelling the Burin Peninsula highway in complete whiteout conditions for years and years and years, seeking much needed medical service."
Pat Coish Snow, Chief Operating Officer with Peninsulas, acknowledged the unit came about in large part due to a $1 million investment by the provincial government in 2006.
She also applauded the efforts of the Burin Peninsula Dialysis Committee and Marystown Kinsmen Club, which raised some $102,000. A cheque in the amount was passed over to Eastern Health during the ceremony.
Ms. Coish Snow noted the unit currently employs two part-time nurses and two others for relief purposes.
She indicated fifth patient will soon start treatment at the hospital.
"It's been a long time coming, but we're certainly very proud to be officially opening this unit this afternoon."
Cyril Dodge, chair of the Burin Peninsula Health Care Foundation, which worked along side the dialysis committee, expressed his satisfaction with the completion of the project.
"This is a win-win for the Burin Peninsula and it's another health care service that's here at the hospital along with all the other diagnostic equipment we've been able to provide to the general public over the last 10 to 12 years." \
On hand representing the provincial government were Health Minister Ross Wiseman, Burin-Placentia West MHA Clyde Jackman and Grand Bank MHA Darin King.
Mr. Wiseman indicated government is committed to ensuring services such as dialysis are available closer to home. He acknowledged similar units in St. Anthony and Happy Valley-Goose Bay will be opened next month.
"I do want to thank each and everyone of you for being a bit patient with government, as we were moving towards enhancing the services here, and at the time we made the announcement, making the commitment to work with us to make this a reality."
Mr. Jackman, who also worked hard to make the dialysis unit happen, was pleased to see the large contingent of mayors from around the peninsula among those in the crowd.
"I've been saying it for the last four years, and I'm going to continue to say it, that in order for us to get the services that we require on this peninsula then we have got to work co-operatively.
"There's no more than that to it, and this is a result of what has happened."