I am a registered nurse at the dialysis unit at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Once winter approaches, a question frequently asked by patients is "What happens if I can’t get to dialysis?"
The answer is, if you don’t drink too many fluids or eat too many foods high in potassium you will be OK for another day. If not, you may become short of breath or experience irregular heartbeats. It is very frightening to most of these people.
So on Feb. 17, when the state of emergency occurred, a state of emergency occurred for the 27 patients who were supposed to be at our dialysis unit. My husband, fearing for my safety, strongly argued against my driving to work under these blizzard-like conditions. But I knew that there would be patients who would get there and be waiting for dialysis.
The point of this is the sorry response we received from the police department and county transportation services to get these patients to the necessary treatments.
Freehold Township and Howell police brought them to the hospital but refused to bring them home.
Marlboro police refused to do either and actually called the unit and in an angered voice said it was not their job and we had nerve to even think that they would help.
Most of these people are in their 70s and 80s with limited mobility and are living day to day. They have lived, worked and paid taxes in Monmouth County for most of their adult lives. They have helped to build our schools, roads, elected our officials, and continue to help pay our salaries. So shame on all of you in this time when we are threatened with terrorism and war. No one could help out our seniors and a very small group of dialysis patients — we are talking about five people.
Susan Gerard
Freehold Township