08/11/2025
Deborah McGee's Journey: A Story of Resilience and Gratitude 💙
Deborah McGee has faced more challenges than most—two open heart surgeries, living in a shelter, and the difficult reality of returning to dialysis treatments. But through it all, one thing has remained constant: her unwavering determination. “I'm not giving up, I refuse to give up.”
For individuals like Ms. McGee, attending regular dialysis treatments is not only a medical necessity but a logistical challenge. Relying on public transportation to make it to dialysis, the East Tennessee Kidney Foundation has been a lifeline, helping her with travel costs.
“The Diane Hagey Dialysis Transportation program helps save me money. Some months, I wasn’t going to have enough to get to treatment. It can be expensive to get here three times a week, five weeks in a month.”
Though the journey is tough, Ms. McGee’s positive attitude shines through. “Once you get here on the machine, you run through, then go home. Some days are better than other days, some days I have to go straight home and go to bed.”
She reflects on her dialysis sessions, sharing, “Some days I will be sick and call out, but if you don’t come, you might have to go to emergency services. I was in the hospital for eight days, 5 days on dialysis then had to get fluid because they drained everything out of my body.”
Through all the pain, she is thankful: "I can’t do a lot, but I am grateful to be on this side."
Her story underscores the importance of organizations like the East Tennessee Kidney Foundation, which helps ease the financial burden of kidney disease, ensuring individuals like Ms. McGee can focus on healing and not worry about how to get there.
