Story Published: Aug 5, 2009 at 10:10 PM PST
Story Updated: Aug 17, 2009 at 12:02 PM PST
It's dialysis and it's what's keeping Potlatch resident Mike Dial alive.
He has had three kidney transplants and almost 20 years of dialysis. For much of that time he has had to drive about 60 miles each way to get dialysis treatment in Clarkston.
But Wednesday the Fresenius Medical Care Palouse Dialysis Clinic opened in Moscow. Dial said it will significantly improve his lifestyle.
"It does take a lot of stress and strain off of getting back home," said Dial. "Most of the time it'd be like 10:30 before I got home at night and then get up and go to work the next day."
Dial said his 1992 Intrepid had 20,000 miles on it when he got it. It now has over 200,000.
With the new clinic, Dial said the drive will be easier, especially in the winter. Besides being closer to home, Dial said the new clinic has a nice atmosphere.
"I can hang out, or I can read, or I can sleep, or I can pick on the staff, if they're handy," joked Dial.
Clinic Manager Terry Whybark said kidney failure is becoming more and more common.
"The kidneys fail for various reasons and to sustain life they have to be on dialysis and it basically cleans the blood and removes toxins so they can survive," said Whybark.
