When Jimbo Medeiros got to his dialysis appointment, the sign on the door said, "CLOSED, NO POWER." The former radio personality, now 36, has end-stage renal failure and needs dialysis three times a week, 4 1/2 hours per session.

When the power went out all over O'ahu two months ago, some dialysis clinics had backup generators, some didn't. A measure moving through the state Legislature, Senate Bill 1178, would require that all dialysis centers have a generator to run the equipment to treat patients during an emergency.

Jimbo's mother, Joann Medeiros, decided that what happened to her son shouldn't happen to anyone. It was too scary. Dialysis is such a delicate, crucial thing, and without it, lives can be lost. She called Sen. Jill Tokuda, who introduced the bill. Medeiros is now rallying other dialysis patients to lobby for the bill.

"One of my biggest fears is that the state will get hit with a major storm or hurricane and be without power for a long time," Joann Medeiros said. "The hospitals cannot handle all these dialysis patients."

The state Department of Health submitted testimony against the bill, saying it may be cost-prohibitive for some dialysis facilities to keep a backup generator.

The National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii submitted testimony saying that instead of a generator at each facility, what is needed is a comprehensive emergency plan among hospitals and dialysis providers that would ensure every dialysis patient has access to treatment during a prolonged power outage. The Kidney Foundation's recommendations were added to the bill.

Jimbo Medeiros ended up getting dialysis later that evening, but an abbreviated session. Better than nothing, his mother said. But if the power hadn't gone back on, then what?

Medeiros says he's actually twice been hooked up to the machine when the power went out. "They wait for five minutes to see if it comes back on, and if not, they manually hand-crank your blood back to you and send you home."

Senate Bill 1178 was passed with amendments in the Health Committee last week and is on its way to the Consumer Protection Committee. "Part of what I hope to have happen is to put some kind of system in place for the thousands of people who rely on dialysis to stay alive," Tokuda said.

The Medeiroses hope dialysis patients and their caregivers contact legislators and make their needs known.

"I know everyone agrees there needs to be a plan," Joann Medeiros said.

Lee Cataluna's column runs Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at 535-8172 or lcataluna@honoluluadvertiser.com.