separate from that the toxins nld up. one of the most important being potassium which at high levels makes the heart stop. >> this is no way to live. about as close to death as you can get. and what's more, research shows that treating patients with emergency dialysis versus standard dialysis is nearly four times more expensive because the patients like lucia are so much sicker when they come for treatment. >> they are literally pushing themselves to the brink of death. >> they are. >> to get this treatment. am i overstating that. >> not at all. >> there is no question it works. >> lucia. look at lucia now. after dialysis removed ten liters of fluid from her body. >> how are you feeling. >> right now i feel good. >> still, lucia is always worried. mostly about her family, especially her son alex. he watches his mother steadily decline every single week. this is their life.