Redland Hospital patient Tim Prime has issued a clear warning to others about the dangers of smoking following a long journey of health complications, including heart failure and now kidney disease.
Tim, originally from County Durham in the UK, started smoking at 20 and spent years using cigarettes, pipes and cigars before becoming aware of the consequences.
“I started smoking when I was 20, which was before the days when there were warnings about smoking,” Tim said. “I would say that nicotine and tobacco is a hugely addictive drug. It has a terrible effect on your health.
“The cornerstones of your health are your heart, your lungs, your kidneys and of course your blood as well. If you bring smoke into that cycle through your lungs into your blood, you are going to affect it."
Tim said he thought he was immune to all of that until he had a heart attack, which came as a big surprise.
“I was fit and active, a keen gardener, and all of a sudden ‘bang’ life changes."
Tim followed his family to Australia after they settled here. but illness has kept him from exploring as much as he hoped.
“I haven’t seen as much of Australia as I’d hoped,” he said. “I went into hospital with pneumonia and the doctor said that I had a kidney problem, and I was told I had severe kidney failure.”
Dialysis nurse Carla Gaspar said dialysis helped replace the function of the kidneys by removing waste, excess fluid and toxins from the blood.
“People with kidney failure often need dialysis two to three times a week, with each session lasting about four to five hours,” she said.
Tim said being able to come to Redland for treatment had been helpful.
“The staff on this ward are lovely, they are caring and will spend time with you if you need them. I am so happy here."
However, his warning to the next generation:
“Do not smoke and if you do, keep quitting until you find a way to quit that works for you.”