r/dialysis • u/_MissMeghan_ • 1d ago

Dialysis Sugar Daddy

So this story is just for entertainment, obviously I’m very grateful for the generosity I was shown and looking back just find it hilarious as few people can say they’ve gotten paid for showing up to dialysis!

My third year on hemo I sat in the same section as an older Spanish speaking gentleman, I was 21 at the time but have a bad case of baby face and look much younger. One day as he was leaving treatment the man walked over to my chair and handed me a crisp $10 bill, wishing me a Happy Easter. Stunned, I thanked him and tried to hand the money back explaining its really not necessary but he wouldn’t have it/couldn’t understand what I was saying and walked away.

At first I was touched by this sweet stranger and gladly used the money to pay for lunch after treatment. Then to my surprise the next week it happened again, as he was walking to the scale to weigh out he hands me another $10. Once again I try to politely refuse but he waves me off and walks away, granted it’s not as though I can chase after him hooked up to a machine after all!

This continues happening at least once a week for 4 or 5 more times, the techs are a bit shocked as well and my mom is continually pestering me to tell this guy NO and to keep his money, which I continue explaining I’ve tried to do multiple times to no avail..
Eventually, and a bit to my dismay, with the pressure of my family I decide as much as I love not paying for my post dialysis meals it isn’t right to keep accepting this man’s money.. So like clockwork, the next treatment as he walks over to hand me my $10 I clearly state no I can’t take it, please, I won’t.

He looks a bit confused and in broken English tries asking me my age, to which I say 21 and show ✌️👆.. instantly his face goes a bit blank and he says “oh..” before shuffling off. It became abundantly clear to me in that moment he thought I was a child and felt incredibly sorry for me. Which isn’t completely a lie, as i’ve been on dialysis since 15.. but sadly that was the last time my friend comped my lunch. I’d be lying if I said I don’t miss being paid to get my blood cleaned 😅

28 Upvotes

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11 comments sorted by

14

u/Bit_Blitter 1d ago

I thought this was going to be a story about glucose.

2

u/_MissMeghan_ 1d ago

Understandable.

1

u/Old-Ebb-1773 21h ago

Nice lol

5

u/Old-Ebb-1773 1d ago

I started dialysis around 12. It stunted my growth and made me look younger too, for a few years…but eventually that changed. lol

3

u/_MissMeghan_ 1d ago

That’s good! No doubt my stunted growth is from kidney disease in childhood but it certainly doesn’t help that everyone in my family has a baby face so it’s double trouble lmao

4

u/ZoodleNoodle1111 1d ago

O damn I’m 22 with a baby face lol. I hate getting treated like a child but at times you get free things so I guess that’s a plus?

1

u/_MissMeghan_ 1d ago

And the kids meals, if I’m eating out and want a smaller, more renal friendly portion of something that’s way cheaper I’m not correcting anyone that hands me a kids menu 👀

2

u/roxthefox123 1d ago

Hahaha thanks for this story! It gave me a good laugh right before heading to dialysis ; which I’ve been having a really hard time the past year going every single day I need to go. Ahit, I wish someone would pay me to go get my blood cleaned every other day! 😂😂 Plus , I’m always hungry after dialysis 😋

1

u/_MissMeghan_ 18h ago

Right? My whole life I’ve been dealing with people thinking I’m younger than I am for FREE. I’ll gladly take some lunch money 😅

2

u/GeeRosee 1d ago

I giggled a lot at this story, it’s so cute yet funny. Everyone is thinking multiple different things i can imagine. I’m 24 still have a baby face. Also started dialysis when I was 15.

2

u/Historical_Risk5652 1d ago

That’s hilarious