We smashed it yesterday for World Kidney Day.
Our patients had so much fun. In preparation I had asked the patients their favourite songs and I made a play list which we had playing in the background in the unit. Some had forgotten I had asked them, and looking around the unit I was delighted to see that some were reminiscing saying “it was lovely to hear familiar music and songs that they recognised”.
We started the fun off by having a lengthy game of Play Your Cards Right.
Everyone joined in, including those that usually prefer to sleep through the usual games afternoons. It was hard work trundling the board around the unit to all 18 beds during the morning haemodialysis session, and again in the afternoon, but it was definitely worth it, we all had great fun, with lots of laughing. The 2 winners of this game won a bag of goodies that were kindly donated by Kidney Research UK.
We then went on to play the price is right, with gift sets that had been donated to us just after Christmas. Again, it was good fun and much quieter than the previous game.
To help celebrate World Kidney Day, every patient was given a candy stripe sweet bag with a lovely treat inside, to either take home, or in most cases, enjoy whilst on dialysis. Linda one of our Support Workers had generously baked 45 homemade, kidney shaped, short bread biscuits, which were a lovely surprise for everyone to enjoy.
At lunch time the staff had a treat too with cream cakes set out on a tablecloth made up of all their names and comments describing how amazing they really are. The feedback I received was amazing, it was great to see all of our patients leaving the unit in good spirits, with happy faces and full bellies, and it was even better to join the hundreds of organisations and individuals who were also joining the World Kidney Day campaign. Raising awareness of kidneys, how important it is to be aware of kidney health, and what happens when they don’t work properly.
I left work happy, satisfied, and shattered, but it was worth it 😊.
