A group of patients with a cheeky sense of humour have made it their mission to keep the nurses who look after them laughing.
The self-named ‘Fistula Boys’ all have dialysis treatments at Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester multiple times a week and enjoy brightening everyone’s days whilst they are there.
They came up with the name ‘Fistula Boys’ as an AV fistula is a connection that's made between an artery and a vein for dialysis access and is created via a surgical procedure – and this is something that connects them.
The group is made up of Reg Foy, 84 from Wool, and his friends that he made at the unit, Dave, 85 from Winfrith, and Steve, 59 from Weymouth.
Reg said: “We want to celebrate our nurses. They give their hearts and souls, and we really appreciate it.”
The group was formed around two years ago when Reg was informed that his kidneys were failing.
He said: “I was told that I am going to be on dialysis for the rest of my life. I’m too old for a transplant. But what do you do with that information, you make the most of it.
“We are three people from completely different backgrounds can come together and have fun – We are so lucky.”
Now, the Fistula Boys make it their mission to ‘get the nurses laughing.’
One of the gags that they came up with was getting Reg to dress up as the King on Coronation Day as he entered the unit to ‘God Save the King.’
The group also wore their best fancy dress for Halloween.
The jokester has a background in children’s entertainment and was known as Professor Crackerbang – he even had a stint on the Queen Elizabeth 2 ocean liner.
He added: “I have always done things as an entertainer to make people laugh. The only way I can deal with my diagnosis is by being bright and cheerful.”
Reg lives with his wife Ellen at their home in Wool who he described as being ‘fully supportive’ of his antics.
He said: “When I met her, I won the jackpot. She never knows what I am going to get up to.”
Reg revealed that ‘before his kidneys went, his eyes were going and it mad him really miserable,’ however he is now able to find the joy and humour in life once again.
He added: “ We want to thank them for everything they do for us and everyone else every single day. Without them we wouldn't be here.”
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