FLAGSTAFF, AZ (AZFamily) —According to the American Kidney Fund , over half a million Americans are currently on dialysis for kidney failure.

Treatment is needed three times per week and can take three to four hours, taking its toll on patients, particularly in rural areas.

April 3 is usually a special day for Frances Lugo because it’s her daughter’s birthday. But it was different this year because it was the day she started dialysis.

“It’s scary for anybody,” Lugo said. Since then, she has gone in for treatment three times a week for four hours per day. While not painful, Lugo said it was draining and took time away from being with her husband and nine grandchildren.

“Hard on me,” she said. “Like hard on my body. Hard to come to dialysis.”

Lugo gets her treatment at Fresenius Kidn

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