"If I had three kidneys, I’d absolutely donate another one tomorrow, unquestionably."
As a child, I remember seeing stories about how you can donate blood, or even some organs, to help people in need. It felt like such a simple way to help people who needed it. As soon as I could, I started donating blood. I also signed up to the organ donation scheme and carried the cards as well in my wallet. Why not? It felt like the right thing to do.
I got to a stage in my life where everything was going well for me. It felt like I could donate a kidney without disrupting anything. I was in my fifties, and my children had left home and didn’t have any major health concerns. I didn’t know anyone with kidney disease, but decided to bide my time and see if any opportunity for altruism presented itself. A couple of years later, that is precisely what happened.
I’m a very keen fisherman and follow a lot of other people with similar interests on social media. One person who I had met a couple of times, Bob, wrote on Facebook that his kidney function was slowly decreasing, and he’d soon need to go onto a dialysis machine three times a week. It felt like the right time for me, so I sent him a message to say I’d be interested in seeing if I could donate to him.
He has since told me that the initial message and subsequent phone call we had that night was one of the most joyous, yet surreal conversations he’s ever had in his life.
The process took quite a long time for us because of the pandemic. It was a revelation to discover whilst going through this whole process that the actual recipients are not the most important consideration when doing a donation. The donors are, and it’s their health that is taken as the highest priority, as no detrimental risks to their health can be taken. This was quite a shock to me, and it’s why I was under so much physical and mental observation during the process. It couldn’t have been more thorough.
After finally getting all the necessary tests done, it turned out that I was healthy enough to be able to donate, however my kidney wasn’t a good match for Bob. However, the doctors told us about the UK Living Kidney Sharing Scheme, where I could donate my kidney to someone who was a direct match, and in return someone better suited to Bob would give him theirs. I didn’t hesitate and said yes straight away.
Some more health checks and tests were done to try to find a fitting match – both a matching recipient for me and a matching kidney for Bob. Finally, we got the long-awaited news in April 2023 that a matching pair had been found!
A date for the operation was set, giving me a bit of time to lose a bit of weight, get fit for the operation, and get everything in order so I would have time to recover. It was actually Bob who pointed out that I would be losing nearly one kilogram by having one of my kidneys removed, something I hadn’t factored in whatsoever! I still find this highly amusing to this day.
The day of the operation arrived, and I felt incredibly calm about the whole thing. As the anaesthetic was applied, I was asked to think of the things that made me happy.
I thought of fishing on my favourite stretch of river Trent at East Stoke, my beloved Ukraine, and my six kids; the best any father could ever wish for. I thought of them all before…zzzzzzzz.
Next thing I knew, I was waking up six hours later!
Bob made a full recovery. He told me that he felt like he had his life back. He was able to do things he wasn’t able to do before the operation and live his life to the full, as all people should be able to.
Luckily my own recovery was really easy – probably too easy! I was up and walking again the day after the operation. By the following Monday I was well enough to walk my kids to school. I’m self-employed so thankfully didn’t do anything too much until I could, but it wasn’t as long as the healthcare team had told me to expect.
I’ve recently become a Buddy in the UK Living Kidney Donation Buddy Support Service. I was 52 when I donated. The healthcare team were brilliant, but I still did a lot of my own research and read as much as I can. Now, I want to use that knowledge to help others considering the process and share my own experiences of what it’s really like to donate a kidney. I wish something like the Buddy Support Service existed when I was going through the process!
If you are reading this and in reasonably good health, then you too could possibly help change more than one person’s life and also gain a lifelong friendship as well, as I have. I can honestly say that if I had three kidneys, I’d absolutely donate another one tomorrow, unquestionably. That’s how good and world-class this process has actually been for me.
“I’m a great believer that when you light a lamp for somebody, it will also brighten your path.”
Read"It’s now been almost 13 years since I donated, and nothing has changed in terms of my health or my lifestyle."
Read"Here was a chance to do something kind without having to wait for someone I know to need my support."
Read"Seeing how it helped my brother has made it all so, so worth it. As much as the journey was scary, it’s proven to be so rewarding."
Read“I wanted to share my kidney donation story to help build awareness of the good that we all can do to help someone worse off.”
Read“It’s amazing how a small amount of inconvenience on my part can make such a huge difference to someone else.”
Read20 years ago, David's enthusiasm for life was put to the test when he found out his kidneys were failing and he would need a transplant.
ReadAisha is determined to raise awareness of living kidney donation and encourage more people in South Asian communities to consider donating.
Read"My husband was living on dialysis, and I saw the constant reality of what that meant for him."
Read"I set myself clear goals to return to fitness and running after my kidney donation."
Read"This is me, Louise Sach, shortly after I was diagnosed with chronic renal failure."
Read"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.
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.
