Man recognized for supporting wife through kidney treatment

By Uriah A. Kiser

Published: July 31, 2008

STAFFORD — A non-profit agency is recognizing a dedicated husband for his work with dialysis patients.

Will Bullet, of Stafford, has been awarded the 2008 Dialysis Patients Citizen award. DPC is a group of 22,000 dialysis patients and caregivers helping to better the quality of life for patients.

For the past five years Bullet has cared for his wife who has needed dialysis at least three times per week. Working as a night manager at a wholesale warehouse, Bullet often forgoes sleep to drive his wife, Shirley, to her treatment center in Woodridge.

“He has been with me since day one,” said Shirley. “When my kidneys failed he was the one who said that ‘we would make it this together.’”

The couple is no stranger to the effects of Kidney failure, when seven years ago both lost their 25-year-old son when he was found in his off campus apartment at Christopher Newport University. Bullet said her son was found partially conscious but ultimately succumbed to his weakened condition caused by diabetes.
When Shirley became sick she knew she had to take it very seriously.

“My wife is a warrior…supporting my wife and keeping her aggressive in [treatment] is very important…I am very proud of her” said Bullet.
When Shirley Bullet began treatment, she said that she felt very weak and always felt sick. She went from working as a registered nurse five days per week to only three, before her clinic closed in 2006. Now she said she is unable to work.

“I’m just glad that I has a very understanding employer at the time that helped me,” she said.

Over the past four months Will and his wife have been active lobbyist in Washington, attempting to bring more attention and funding to diabetes research.

“Even though Will is not a dialysis patient, he has been one of DPC’s most active supporters by continually visiting Capitol Hill and his wife’s [treatment] facility to keep patients encouraged, empowered and involved in their care,” said Chad Lennox, DPC’s executive director, in a released statement.

When not at dialysis treatment the couple said they enjoy spending time with their grandchildren and keeping busy any way they can.

When kidneys fail they can no longer clean the body’s blood. Excess chemicals and harmful waste build up in the body that can lead to high blood pressure, even death, according to the National Institutes of Health. Diabetes affects more than 21 million Americans.