Laura knew she would donate a kidney to her sister if she needed it. When the time came, she found the process absolutely worth it.
My sister had health problems from a very young age. We discovered early on that she only had one working kidney, and the other was the size of a pea. When she was around 9 or 10 years old, she lost her spleen. From that moment, I knew that if she ever got to the point where she needed a kidney, I would be there for her. It was quite an unusual thing to promise yourself at a young age, but it was a commitment I made in my heart!
By the time she needed a kidney, I had children of my own. She had reached a stage where, without a kidney donation, she would have to go on dialysis, which is basically a life-support machine. My daughter also had kidney reflux as a young child, which left some scarring on her kidneys. This new family dynamic made me question if I should proceed with donating. What if my daughter needed a kidney in the future? However, I was determined and stood my ground – I was doing it.
Our family had a discussion about who would donate, but we all knew I would be the first if I could. My mother wanted to donate too, but at 74, my sister and I agreed that we wouldn’t let her undergo surgery. We knew that it could have been logical for her to donate first, and I could potentially donate in the future if needed, but my sister refused this idea.
The tests were honestly not bad at all. I had a dedicated nurse at St Thomas ’Hospital who met with me regularly. We had long chats to ensure I understood everything and was happy to continue. I don’t recall much about the tests, which I suppose shows how easy they must have been! I didn’t find them much of an issue at all.
The operation nearly didn’t go ahead on the planned day because my sister had a slight elevated temperature that morning, but in the end they gave the all-clear for the operation to go ahead. I still remember us being wheeled into the operating theatre, one after the other. It felt like just another operation, although I certainly had a few nervous flutters – it was major surgery, after all!
I was given a separate cubicle from my sister for the recovery period, though still on the same ward. I was told that she would look brilliant and I would look like I’d been hit by a bus. After all, she was getting this amazing gift that would allow her body to work properly, while my body would need time adjusting to having one kidney. In the end though, I was fine!
My recovery was brilliant. The only lasting result of the operation is a scar that you can’t even really notice. I was given the usual advice about not lifting much in the first few weeks after the operation, but within two weeks I felt fine enough to resume my normal life. The surgeon gave me a few months off work and my employer was very understanding, however I didn’t need all the time offered and returned to work much sooner.
My sister wasn’t immediately better and had to spend a few more days in the hospital, but after that, she was completely fine too. 21 years on, she’s living proof of how life-changing a kidney donation can be! She lives a normal life. She looks after herself very well and is very conscious of her health, especially because she’s immunosuppressed.
When I donated, I had the assurance that I’d be monitored annually to make sure everything was fine with my remaining kidney. The reassurance is there. Everything was fine and I’ve never had any issues, but it’s a good thing to have!
If you’re considering donating, I say – do it! You’re giving the gift of life with no significant side effects to yourself. It’s normal to go through an emotional journey deciding whether it’s the right decision for you. I’d even say that journey is a good thing. It means you’re really thinking about it and whether it’s right for you. For me, it was absolutely worth it. The benefits to my sister far outweighed the risks to me, which were thoroughly explained during the testing process. My few weeks of discomfort gave my sister 21 years of a normal life without having to live on dialysis. If I could do it again, I absolutely would.
It’s been over two decades since my operation, and I haven’t really talked about it much. I’m usually quite reserved and don’t generally share my story. But I felt that if it helps one person to donate, then who wouldn’t share their story? My sister and I recently attended Kidney Research UK’s London Bridges Walk. We got to talking with a lady who was walking for her husband. When she heard our story, she called her children over to show them what someone could look like over 20 years after donating a kidney! I’m still living my life as anyone else does, and was able to take part in the charity walk without any issues.
Donating a kidney was one of the most impactful decisions of my life, and seeing my sister live a healthy, fulfilling life makes it all worthwhile
Emma 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."
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.
