"I feel immeasurably better in myself knowing I have been able to give my brother the gift of a healthy life."
My older brother Craig was placed on the renal transplant list in August of 2022. Within a fortnight, I had begun the process of getting tested for compatibility for a directed kidney donation. Through all the blood tests, urinalysis, general health checks, x-rays and scans, I was never in doubt that we would be a good match, and so it proved. The testing took place over a period of around 6 months. The worst part was the agonising wait to actually get a set surgery date!
We finally got notification that we would be going in for transplant in June 2023, just under a year from my first compatibility tests. Both mine and Craig’s employers were very understanding and accommodating given that we had to isolate before and after the surgery because of Covid – in total I was absent from work for six weeks (and received reimbursement to cover the lost wages).
The transplant took place in Addenbrookes Hospital. All the staff there were excellent, they kept me, my brother and all our family calm and informed after we were admitted. I had been stubbornly willing myself through the whole process, as had Craig until that point, but the night before the surgery – after all our visitors had left – I will admit I found it difficult to remain calm. I never had any doubts about proceeding, but the realisation of the severity of the procedure just began to weigh on me. Despite that, I persevered, and the surgical team were excellent at keeping me calm as I entered the theatre.
Little did I know, upon regaining consciousness, that there had been a series of minor complications in my operation. I was told that I had been on the table for almost 7.5 hours instead of the expected 2-3. In the recovery ward I had an intense pain in my leg where the nerves had been trapped for such an extended period. That was more intense than the actual abdominal pain I was feeling. I had never been under a general anaesthetic before, and it was frankly quite frightening waking up in that situation, but my recovery nurse was absolutely brilliant, very attentive and sympathetic to my condition. Within hours of returning to the transplant ward I was able to get up from my bed and make the short walk down the corridor to see Craig after surgery.
It was such a beautiful thing to see he had come through his surgery safely and without complication; a truly overwhelming emotional experience like I hadn’t ever felt before. It seemed to melt away all the pains I had. I stayed in the ward overnight for observations, then the following afternoon – just around 48 hours after admission – my stay in hospital was over and I was sent back home for recovery.
The first night at home was a real struggle. My partner Bethany and I both got quite emotional, because I was in such pain after climbing the stairs to the bedroom and couldn’t find a way to get into bed without serious abdominal pain and she was powerless to help me. Each day things got progressively easier, and I was insistent on getting out each day and walking, even if just for 10 minutes, as I was determined to recover as quickly as possible. I had been given some medications that I was taking to help post-operative recovery, including a self-administered blood-thinning injection that I had to do daily for two weeks after the surgery. I am needle-phobic, and still can’t look when my blood is drawn (despite the numerous tests we went through and I still go through now), so to inject myself was an extremely difficult thing for me to do!
It took around three months to fully recover my energy levels. In September of 2023 I started running again, with the aim of taking part in the 2024 London Landmarks Half Marathon. It feels amazing to be able to move and be active in the same way I was before donating my kidney, and I take pride in promoting awareness of kidney disease when I am participating in races as a living donor.
If I had to do it all again, knowing what I now know about the process, I would say yes in a heartbeat. Not only has my life returned to normal since donating, but I feel immeasurably better in myself knowing I have been able to give my brother the gift of a healthy life. And he has more time – unburdened from the restrictions of dialysis – to enjoy his life with his fiancée, family, and friends. We can both now look to the future, to our marriages, and to creating more memories together over the years, knowing we have an unbreakable bond that has been made possible by the brilliant hard work of the NHS staff that have carried us through this process and continue to support us.
"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.
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.
