JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Art Banks was a recipient of a kidney, and throughout the process, he and his wife, Yara, felt that they did not have enough resources. So when he got better, they started a support group for others.
"I was considered young. I was 38. So being told you have to be on dialysis -- probably for the rest of your life -- is very hard to take," Art Banks said. "It's a lifestyle change. You're sitting there for 3-4 hours getting your blood cleaned, and you have to find things to keep your mind occupied. There isn't anyone to talk to. You can talk to the other patients, but they are kind of limited on their information, also. There was a need for a group to say, 'Where can we help you?' "What information can we get for you?"
So the Banks' formed Access to Life Advocacy Services Inc. (ATLAS), a nonprofit trying to meet the needs of patients from various dialysis clinics.
"Not only is it not a death sentence ... you can have fun. You can meet great people. You can do projects, if that's your desire," dialysis patient Gloria Stephens said. "There are lots of things to do and to be done for people with dialysis."
"I want to be a community center-type environment where folks who have kidney disease, who are at risk of kidney disease, can come get information and socialize and interact with each other -- building a camaraderie and spirit and hope to keep fighting on because it's not the end of the world."Yara Banks said.
For their efforts founding and running ATLAS, the Banks were honored with WJXT and Memorial Hospital's Positively Jax award for September.