Florida Dialysis Patient Advocate Receives National Award Recognizing Her Contributions to Her Local Dialysis Community

Dialysis Patient Citizens Hero Award Given to Miami Dialysis Patient Advocate in Recognition of Her Strong Leadership in the Kidney Community

Washington, D.C. (April 26, 2010) -- Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC) -- a nationwide, non-profit patient advocacy organization comprised of more than 22,000 dialysis and pre-dialysis patients and family members working to advance the quality of life of dialysis patients -- presented Miami resident Loretta deVries with its March 2010 DPC Hero Award today in recognition of her ongoing support of kidney patients in her hometown, across Florida, and nationwide.

Fourteen years ago, Loretta deVries’ beloved husband, Johan deVries, a former diplomat, passed away at the age of 69 after many years of struggling with diabetes and renal failure.  Loretta was a dedicated caregiver to her husband throughout his illnesses, often accompanying him to his dialysis facility for treatments at Jackson Memorial Hospital.  Her involvement in her husband’s treatment opened her eyes to many of the problems within the dialysis community at that time.  She became aware of many indigent patients receiving dialysis treatments who then had little or no resources for receiving proper nutrition at home – making them even more sick.

In 1996, Loretta started The Dialysis Food Foundation of South Florida – the only foundation of its kind in the country – in honor of her late husband and with the hope of bringing a solution to ensuring dialysis patients receive the appropriate nutrition they need.   Eligible patients for this program, who receive kidney-healthy foods each week at no charge, are identified by nutritionists and social workers from various renal facilities within the area.  To date, the foundation has served thousands of meals to patients who otherwise would not have been eating the proper food or not eating at all.
The Foundation provides bags of food for the patients at the beginning of each week that include non-perishable meals which meet the special dietary needs of dialysis patients.  Loretta works with local doctors to make sure the dialysis patients don’t go hungry, and doctors see major differences in the patients served by the program, including less hospitalizations and increased quality of life.

“Loretta is a great example of what it means to be a DPC Hero,” said DPC Executive Director Chad Lennox.  “Loretta was a devoted caregiver to her husband for many years and is now spreading her support throughout the kidney community in South Florida.  DPC applauds her continued advocacy and her dedication to helping others”.  

Currently, the Dialysis Food Foundation of South Florida serves 250 patients in Miami Dade County; however there are more than 600 patients on their waiting list that desperately need help.  Loretta’s goal is for the foundation to be able to provide the necessary nutritional balance of food to all of the indigent dialysis patients in Miami Dade County and to become a prototype for the rest of the country.  “My inspiration everyday to continue my work is knowing that we are the only organization in the country doing this kind of work,” says Loretta. “Without our service the medical complications that these patients suffer from would increase dramatically.  I am hopeful that our organization will help to raise awareness of this overwhelming problem throughout the country.”

The cost to feed one patient is less that $4 a day.  For more information on how you can sponsor a patient, please call 305-937-2598 or visit The Dialysis Food Foundation of South Florida.

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More About the DPC Hero Award
The DPC Hero award is open to caregivers, nephrologists, family members, patients, and other members of the kidney community who have empowered themselves or others in the kidney community. It is given to reflect the spirit of the thousands of people whose efforts make a difference in the lives of others, whose stories often go untold.

Nominations for the DPC Hero award can be sent to dpc@dialysispatients.org or by contacting 1-866-877-4242.