Vim & Vigor - Spring 2012 - University of Virginia - (Page 52)

For This T Traveling Man, Dialysis Is No Roadblock Hunter Earhart depends on daily kidney treatment to manage his disease, but doesn’t let it keep him from living his dream By Kelly Casey raveling and collecting celebrity autographs—these are Hunter Earhart’s passions. The 44-year-old office manager from Stuarts Draft, Va., has made a dozen trips to California. He’s met all six original Charlie’s Angels, and on his most recent 10-day vacation he landed an autograph of singing legend Frankie Avalon. But unlike most travelers, Earhart has to bring along nine crates of fluid. He needs them for daily dialysis treatments. He is among a small but growing number of people with kidney failure who opt to do their own dialysis—at home or wherever they go. “With peritoneal dialysis, I can continue my traveling. And I love to travel,” Earhart says. “If all I had was a job and my illness, life would be depressing.” 52 Vim & Vigor • SP R I N G 2 012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Spring 2012 - University of Virginia

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2012 - University of Virginia
Life in Balance
Healthy Dose
Outliving Our Heart Valves
Rewiring Relief
Get Real
How Far We’ve Come
Patient Survival Guide
Perfect Attendance
Jennifer Hudson, Grammy-winning recording artist
Lean on Me
Intimidated by the Gym?
What Is Your Volunteer Style?
A Prescription for Relief
Virtual Health
Moving On
For This Traveling Man, Dialysis Is No Roadblock
A Good Move

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2012 - University of Virginia