Patients like lucia are so much sicker when they come in for treatment. they re literally pushing themselves to the brink of death to get this treatment. am i overstating that? no, not at all. reporter: there is no question it works. lucia. just look at lucia now. after dialysis removed ten liters of fluid from her body. how are you feeling? translator: right now, i feel good. reporter: 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. how hard has this been on your family? translator: it s been really hard. it s been really hard for my family. the worst is for my son. he worries about me. reporter: because just a few days from now, like clock work, ....