Lynn was 75 when she donated a kidney altruistically. "I knew I wanted to do it if I was capable of doing so."
I’ve donated blood for over 50 years now. In the next year or two I’m hoping to match my age in the number of pints of blood I’ve donated. Back in 2019, aged 72, I received a letter from the NHS thanking me for donating 70 pints of blood. At the end, they asked if I’d thought about donating a kidney. It wasn’t something I’d considered before, mostly because I just hadn’t known about it, but I knew in an instant that it was something I’d be comfortable doing. I immediately filled in the form and sent it off.
I forgot about the form almost immediately after sending it, as I really didn’t see it as a big deal. Some weeks later I got another letter back thanking me for my interest, and asking what donation unit I wanted to go to for discussing it further. I chose Bristol as it was relatively nearby.
So off I trundled to meet the living donor co-ordinator. They asked me some basic questions – am I healthy and well? Why did I want to donate? I told them that I saw it as a duty, there was no question at all that I wanted to do it. I now know that not everyone thinks that way and I’m a very altruistic person, but I wouldn’t have said that at the time. I’ve absolutely never regretted my decision.
The tests to see if I could donate were all absolutely fine. I am, by pure luck, a very healthy and fit person, and saw it as my duty to give something back to others who aren’t as lucky. There were lots of tests that had to be done, but I just got on with it. It turned out to be quite a pain to get to Bristol so I asked to move to Dorchester, which they were able to accommodate.
Unfortunately it took nearly three years of work-up before I was deemed ready to donate a kidney, more because of issues with admin than anything else. It was a long time! But I kept on going with it. As it dragged on, my husband told me I didn’t have to keep going. I never had any major surgery before, so I had no idea what to expect. But I wasn’t bothered, I knew I wanted to do it if I was capable of doing so.
I actually forgot to tell my husband that I had put myself forward for donating a kidney until I began my testing. I just didn’t see it as a big decision at all, it was the obvious thing to do, so I didn’t see it as worthy of much of a conversation. He wasn’t happy at all! When we did chat about it, he said he was in full support of my decision, but just would have wanted to know earlier. He was always there for me, but I knew he was worried about me.
The operation was absolutely fine. It really didn’t bother me at all. On the first day I kept getting visitors from all the members of staff on duty because I was the most fun patient! I was 75 at that point. People often say they think they’re too old to donate, so I quickly dismiss that idea.
I was in hospital for two days in total and wasn’t bored at all. I remember being sore but certainly nothing horrible. I’d never been cut open before in my life, so didn’t really know what level of pain to expect.
My husband came to pick me up as I couldn’t drive home myself. I stayed in bed for five days after that to fully heal up. Annoyingly we had a power cut while I was stuck recovering! So no internet, no mobile phone. My husband had to do everything for me.
The strangest feeling I remember was a few days after the operation. I was sitting still, and suddenly felt my organs moving about inside me, as they responded to this new space inside me and found their new place to rest! It was an incredibly odd sensation. By no means painful at all, just very weird.
If someone asked me why you should donate a kidney then I’d say, why not? You certainly have to be a certain type of person to donate an organ. 99% of people I speak to are worried. They may ask, what if my children need a kidney when they’re older, or if I have a problem with my kidneys when I’m older? But in my opinion that’s such a small chance of happening, and even if it did, you’re not guaranteed to be a match for their blood and tissue type. And they do so many tests before you can donate, if you had any kidney issues it would be noticed before you get to the donation.
I am by no means a fearless person. If you put me in an airplane I’d cry the whole way through. But when it came to kidney donation, I didn’t have a single worry. If that sounds like you, why wouldn’t you donate?
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.
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.
