"It has now been over a year since my donation. I have zero pain or discomfort, and I am entirely back to normal with nothing but a scar to remind me of my experience."
I first learned that living kidney donation was possible when I was 18. At the time, I felt quite lost in life – I had recently finished school and had no clue what I wanted to do in the future. This changed when I saw a post online about someone sharing their experience of donating a kidney to a stranger.
Before this, I knew about donating your organs after you’d died and had occasionally heard stories of people donating to help close relatives, but never to a stranger. None of my friends or family had suffered from kidney problems, so the idea was very foreign to me. I liked the concept, but I was also aware that I was still young, so I thought it best to sleep on it and keep it in mind as I got older.
Over the next five years, I kept thinking about it every few weeks until I finally made up my mind and contacted the NHS about living kidney donation.
The whole process was quick and stress-free. I first emailed the NHS in November 2022, but had to delay my first round of tests by a few months due to work commitments until February 2023. While I was waiting, I did a lot of research myself (mainly through podcasts such as ‘Donor Diaries’) and became certain I wanted to donate if I could.
I booked every test and consultation as soon as I could. By July 2023, all my tests were done and I was informed at the end of August 2023 that a match had been found and a date was set. Just a few weeks later, I was one kidney lighter and had transformed a stranger’s life!
I was a bit worried about the operation itself for all the normal reasons around surgery, but luckily none of my fears came true. The operation went exactly as planned and there were no issues. I was put to sleep in the morning at around 9:00am and was awake again around 2:00pm after the surgery.
I only spent a few days recovering in the hospital. It started off poorly, as we quickly learned one of the painkillers didn’t sit well with me! Luckily, this was sorted quickly and the rest of my recovery in hospital was pain-free.
On the first day after the operation, even standing up felt like a real task. However, the recovery was surprisingly fast – by the second day, I could slowly walk around the ward, and by the third, I was able to walk myself out of the hospital! My energy levels fluctuated – I had good days and bad days. But through it all, I could feel myself getting stronger and back to how I felt before.
After 12 weeks, I was able to exercise again. I started off very slowly but quickly got back up to speed. I would say four weeks after restarting exercising, I was 95% back to normal.
It has now been over a year since my donation. I have zero pain or discomfort, and I am entirely back to normal with nothing but a scar to remind me of my experience.
I had prepared myself for the outcome of not knowing where my kidney went, as it’s the recipient’s decision whether or not they want to reach out to their donor. I didn’t want to build up hope of hearing from the recipient, only to be disappointed if I never heard from them. However, six months after donating, the hospital received a letter from the recipient, addressed to me. I learned their name and their story. I was so happy to hear that the procedure went well on their end too, and they had begun to resume normal life. I must admit I cried a lot (tears of joy!) after receiving this letter – I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect ending! The procedure was smooth on both ends and both the recipient and I are back to good health.
If you do choose to donate, don’t be afraid to ask for help. I am an independent person; I love to do everything myself. But while recovering, I had to swallow my pride and move back in with my dad for a few weeks until I could care for myself again.
If I were giving advice to anyone considering living kidney donation, I would say, ironically, don’t listen to anyone except yourself. Friends and family will often give their opinions, but that final decision is only yours to make. It would be wrong of me to say “go and donate a kidney right now” because everyone’s situation is different – it was right for me, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s right for you. Do not be pressured by others. It is your body and your choice.
Best of luck on your journey!
Rachel already knew more than she wanted to about the process of kidney donation before she gave her spare kidney to someone she didn’t know.
ReadHenry donated a kidney to his sister Helen, and has seen first-hand the difference a donation can make for someone with kidney disease.
Read“It has made absolutely no difference to my day-to-day life. My mum, however, has a life like never before.”
ReadNaomi knew she wanted to donate a kidney after learning about kidney disease and reality of life on dialysis.
ReadEmma donated her kidney to a stranger eight years ago after first seeing a story about non-directed donation on TV four years previously.
ReadJoyce thought that she was too old to donate a kidney, before learning there was no upper age limit for donating.
ReadMandy donated one of her kidneys to her younger cousin Lou, who was diagnosed with kidney problems when she was two years old.
Read"I don’t consider myself to be a hero or brave. I just did what I was brought up to do – to help others."
ReadJulie worked hard to stay fit and healthy while she was preparing to donate a kidney to her nephew.
Read"At the beginning it seemed like a difficult decision to make, but since the operation I don’t have any regrets."
ReadTessa believes that donating a kidney to a stranger is one of the best decisions she's ever made.
ReadLynn was 75 when she donated a kidney altruistically. "I knew I wanted to do it if I was capable of doing so."
Read“You don’t need to be a superhero, you don’t need to be a mega star of any sort. It’s something that normal people just like me can do."
ReadLaura knew she would donate a kidney to her sister if she needed it. When the time came, she found the process absolutely worth it.
ReadMatt's dream of joining the police was shattered by an unexpected diagnosis of kidney disease, but his mother's kidney donation allowed him to thrive and pursue new dreams.
Read"I've learnt a lot about myself and my own health – I would do it again in a heartbeat (if I had another kidney to spare!)"
Read"I believe that if you are in a position to help someone else less fortunate than yourself, then you should do so."
ReadEvery kidneyversary deserves a celebration, but in 2024 Elaine marked a particularly poignant milestone – 10 years since she donated a kidney to her eldest daughter.
Read"I feel immeasurably better in myself knowing I have been able to give my brother the gift of a healthy life."
ReadDennis is keen to show people that you can still live your life as normal and achieve great things after donating a kidney.
ReadWhen Ali heard that a former colleague was waiting for a kidney transplant, he knew within minutes that he would offer one of his.
Read"My mum needed a kidney, and I didn’t need both of mine. When I heard that, I didn't have any hesitation."
ReadKathryn faced life-changing kidney failure after being diagnosed with the rare disease, IgA vasculitis.
ReadMarianne has seen first hand the benefits that kidney donation can bring to a family, and feels blessed that she was able to donate a kidney to her brother.
ReadBen felt drained by kidney disease for over 12 years before his cousin gave him a second chance at life by donating his kidney.
ReadJulie donated to her son and knows first hand that donating an organ doesn’t just save a person. It saves a family.
ReadAnne donated into the UK Living Kidney Sharing Scheme so that her brother could receive a kidney transplant.
Read"Within both the Jain and Hindu faiths benevolence to others is supposed to be a key principle. What could be a greater act of benevolence than transforming someone’s life by giving them part of yourself?"
Read"If I had more Kidneys to give, I'd be donating to anyone who needed one."
ReadTrainee teacher Mark is grateful for the life-saving kidney transplant from his brother that put him back on track for life and his career.
ReadSheldon & Hayley watched their daughter Daisy-May go from a shock diagnosis of kidney failure to dialysis, then transplant, in an emotional rollercoaster lasting 16 months.
ReadMy donor gave me a life to live for. I have done things I had never considered doing whilst on dialysis.
Read"If I had another kidney to spare, I would donate in a heartbeat. It was life changing for my husband, and for me as a person."
ReadDavid is just an average Joe. A motorcycling, 54-year-old father and grandfather. And 6 years ago, he donated one of his kidneys to someone who needed it more than he did.
Read40 years ago, Kathleen donated one of her kidneys to Cheryl, who was just five years old at the time.
Read"Giving a small part of me that I didn’t need to someone else would make little difference in my life, but a huge difference in theirs – it was an easy decision for me to make."
ReadLiz's family struggled at first with her determination to donate her kidney to someone unrelated to her.
Read"I donated a kidney to my dad 10 years ago, aged 25. To me, it was a no brainer."
ReadSarah had seen the life-changing difference donating a kidney could have, and immediately knew it was something she wanted to do.
ReadI would not feel as comfortable in my own skin as I do now if I had not donated my kidney.
ReadPete’s kidney gave me my life back and gave my son Edward a mum with energy and vitality.
ReadWhether you’ve already decided to donate a kidney, or you are interested in finding out more about the process and what it involves, we’re here to answer any questions you might have.
