Joyce thought that she was too old to donate a kidney, before learning there was no upper age limit for donating.
I donated a kidney to my friend in October 2023. I was 75 at the time and he had his 71st birthday just a few days afterwards.
I had known his health had been deteriorating for a while. I’d driven him to and from hospital several times over the years for various appointments, and knew that his kidneys were slowly failing. He was still being monitored when he caught Covid-19, which damaged his kidneys further still.
In the years before, I had jokingly said to him “If you ever need a kidney, I’ve got a spare one you can have!” I meant it as a joke mostly because I thought I’d be too old to actually donate. Once he was on dialysis, however, he told me that he actually did need a transplant. So, I thought it was at least worth a try! I rang his renal unit and told them how I wanted to be considered for a donation. They had me in immediately.
I must say, the tests that you have to do before you can donate a kidney were certainly a lengthy process – but they were also very interesting! I suppose because of my age they wanted to check more to make sure I was healthy enough to donate. They explained everything they were doing and why they were doing it, which I found really helpful and reassuring. Most of my tests took place at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, though a few were in Southmead Hospital in Bristol. The care they offered me was excellent throughout the process. I cannot praise the medical staff highly enough.
I didn’t mind the amount of tests. What was hardest for me was that, because I knew it was so urgent, I put my life on hold for a year and a half because I didn’t want to get involved in case anything sped up and I was needed. We were waiting for such a long time for some tests.
My friend’s kidneys continued to deteriorate while I was getting tested and he went onto dialysis in December 2022. He delayed it as much as he could, but got to the point where he really needed it to survive. I had hoped it would all be done and dusted by then, but they needed more time to make sure everything was okay before they could operate. He certainly had some rough days – particularly over the weekends where the time between his dialysis was longest, as he did it on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays.
It took longer than expected, but finally the day of the operation came. The actual procedure only took a few hours. When I woke up from the anaesthetic, surprisingly I felt fantastic! There was no real pain as such. Some discomfort, certainly, but nothing I’d describe as pain.
The day after our operations I was well enough to walk up and see my friend, who was in the ward above mine. I stayed in hospital for four days, just to make sure everything was healing properly. After that, I can’t say I have had any issues living with one kidney.
Incidentally – I was advised by someone who’d also donated a kidney to have a pillow between my seat belt and tummy for the car journey home from the hospital. It was good advice that I’d recommend to anyone going through donation!
Unfortunately my friend has other health issues which really slowed his recovery. But as time has gone on, he’s only got better and better. He looks so improved in himself. His other health issues are still there, but thanks to his new kidney he’s far more mobile than before. He’s told me that he feels better in himself. He’s even directed a few plays since then! He’s been able to visit his family in Wales, which he hadn’t been able to do since going on dialysis.
I would absolutely recommend anyone donate a kidney if they want the opportunity to improve someone’s life, as it has with my friend. The whole experience has been so interesting and incredibly positive. I believe it’s a privilege that I’m in good enough health to be able to offer someone this gift. When I rang up the renal unit, I fully expected to be turned down – I’m already too old to give blood! – but I learnt that there’s no upper age limit for donating a kidney. If you’re healthy enough, it can be done at any age.
If we’re all honest, in my day-to-day life I wasn’t even aware that I had two kidneys, and what I’ve found fascinating is that after my donation, I’m not even aware that I have one. It’s made absolutely no change to my body and my lifestyle whatsoever!
"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."
ReadRachel 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.
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.
