Dialysis patients who were dislocated by last year’s decision by Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta to close its outpatient dialysis unit gathered for a meeting at Oakhurst Presbyterian Church Sunday.  I had the opportunity to continue working with New York Times reporter Kevin Sack on his current heartbreaking health care series.  Kevin has continued to follow the closing of the dialysis unit at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta.  The free dialysis unit offered treatment to many undocumented immigrants who have nowhere else to turn to for the life or death treatments.  After nearly a year of fighting for the life-saving treatment and a number of deaths, thirty-eight end-stage renal patients have been given a rough deal to receive the dialysis they need to survive through Atlanta providers.  The question remaining is what will happen to new patients who desperately need ongoing dialysis treatment. Click the links below to follow Kevin’s series with the most recent article at the top.

• Deal Would Provide Dialysis to Illegal Immigrants in Atlanta (August 31, 2010)
• THE BREAKING POINT; Reprieve Eases Medical Crisis for Illegal Immigrants (January 5, 2010)
• THE BREAKING POINT; For Sick Illegal Immigrants, No Relief Back Home (January 1, 2010)
• Immigrants Lose Lawsuit Against Atlanta Hospital (December 16, 2009)
• Judge Rules That Hospital Can Close Dialysis Unit (September 26, 2009)
• Immigrants Cling to Fragile Lifeline at Safety-Net Hospital (September 24, 2009)

Here are a few images from the most recent shoot as well as images from the past year.  My heart goes out to the family and friends of Fidelia Perez (directly below) who died after her decision to seek out treatment in Mexico as patients were originally encouraged to do with Grady funding.  Perez was one of five patients who have died after taking the advice to return to Mexico. 

Dialysis patients who were dislocated by last year’s decision by Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta to close its outpatient dialysis unit gathered for a meeting at Oakhurst Presbyterian Church Sunday.  I had the opportunity to continue working with New York Times reporter Kevin Sack on his current heartbreaking health care series.  Kevin ...