Henry donated a kidney to his sister Helen, and has seen first-hand the difference a donation can make for someone with kidney disease.
My sister Helen was born with a type of kidney disease called probable renal dysplasia that was discovered when she was 4 years old. She was monitored by a renal paediatric team as she grew up, but otherwise lived quite a normal life. As she got older, however, her kidney function kept getting worse. Around her final years of medical school, she was told that she had late stage 4, and then stage 5, chronic kidney disease. It really affected her, and meant that she had to keep an eye on her day-to-day diet, her work, and what activities she could do.
All in all, the testing process was around 18 months from the initial compatibility tests to the final survey. I was guided through everything by the lovely nurses at Guys and St Thomas Hospital, who kept me very well informed about what to expect and would always check in on how I was feeling about upcoming tests and the process in general. Apart from an issue with my cystoscopy (perhaps the one procedure you don’t want to do twice!) everything went smoothly and painlessly.
Everything up to the day of the surgery was so well-managed. It helped to reduce any nerves I had about the hospital admittance. Obviously, there is a bit of anxiety about a major surgery – but that’s pretty normal. One unique problem we had was that my sister (the recipient) has the same initials as me, which caused some confusion on the ward! I did begin to wonder how many kidneys I would have by the end of the day – but the surgeon I met in the morning assured me he was definitely taking one of mine out.
The surgeon was also assuredly relaxed, which really helped me feel better. It may have been one of the biggest days of my life, but for him it was just another Wednesday.
Recovery on the ward was fine, particularly as we both had lots of friends and family visit who could distract us. The wound where they took out my kidney was a bit sore on the first day of recovery, but the fentanyl drip they gave me took care of most of that – which came with the added benefit of allowing me to follow the Arsenal game that night anxiety-free (good job, because we lost).
I would also advise anyone with an upcoming transplant date to watch what you eat after the procedure. You may feel fine, but getting it in isn’t the problem – as you find out over the next couple of days…
My mobility was limited for a couple of weeks, but I am fortunate enough to be able to work from home so was able to get back pretty quickly afterwards. After about three months I could start running again (with no issues) and I was back racing again within six months.
Helen seems to be a lot better since receiving my kidney – after the initial ups and downs of recovery from the operation, she has more energy in herself. She’s now been able to complete her foundation junior doctor years. She now plans on travelling to Australia – something she wouldn’t have been able to do before.
Do the first step. It’s easy to overthink it, and you don’t know how you will feel until you are hitting each milestone. The living kidney donor team are 100% focused on you – making sure that you never feel under pressure to continue something you aren’t comfortable with. By the time the surgery comes around, you are so well informed that it’s as if you have done it before! The only real surprise is the feelings you have for yourself, the recipient, and the team around you knowing you have been through something special together.
“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.
