A Birmingham mum, who was told she had just six months to live, was given the best ever Christmas present when her big brother Pete offered her the gift of a kidney.
From the moment she was born, Pete Hodson always looked out for his baby sister Tracey Hodges. Then, 38 years later he quite literally saved her life by being her perfect kidney donor match.
Tracey had been on dialysis for seven years before, after a series of setbacks, her veins and arteries were no longer able to take the strain of her life-saving dialysis.
The gravity of her situation only sank in when a nurse from Tracey’s local hospital visited her at the satellite renal unit to explain that without a kidney transplant, she would die within six months.
Tracey, 52, had previously shied away from asking her six siblings if they’d consider organ donation, but now she had no choice.
“My son Edward was 10 years old at the time. He needed a mum, I knew I had to sort it out,” she said.
“My hand was forced. So, I asked Pete. We’d always been close, there’s only two years between us. We were thick as thieves. I told him please don’t feel pressure to say yes.”
Tests later confirmed Pete was as good a match they’d expect from twins.
“Looking back, it’s funny to think that as kids we’d get up to tricks jumping off our garage roof together, jumping off our double swing in the garden together, mucking around. We always looked out for each other growing up and now, quite literally, he was going to save my life. I feel quite emotional just thinking about it,” Tracey said.
Pete’s wife Sam, who works with Tracey, delivered the amazing news that he was happy to donate, during an emotional visit on Christmas Eve.
“Sam and I share a wonderful bond; I feel so lucky,” Tracey said. “When she told me, I was so overwhelmed I cried.”
“Pete’s kidney gave me my life back and gave my son Edward a mum with energy and vitality. Edward had only ever known me on dialysis, tied to a machine. I know he feels the gratitude of what Uncle Pete did.”
Tracey’s kidney problems began when Edward was 18 months old in 1996. Believing that she was suffering from cystitis, Tracey visited the local GP who suspected kidney problems. She was subsequently sent to hospital for tests.
She was diagnosed with IgA nephropathy (IgAN), also known as Berger’s disease. It is not an inherited condition, but happens when a protein, meant to defend the body against virus and bacteria, accumulates in the kidneys and damages them. Tracey was prescribed steroids and the flare up went into remission.
“I felt tired and had lost some weight but thought that was due to being a new mum" Tracey said.
However, it returned with a vengeance three years later in 1999 when Tracey, of Sutton Coldfield, suffered acute kidney failure.
“The weird thing is I had no symptoms at all. I went for my regular blood test and they assumed I must have been in extreme agony with a kidney function that low. Truth was I felt fine. I was put on 60mg steroid dosage but within a fortnight, I had water retention. Every single part of my body blew up.
“I even had a black eye from my eyebrow to my mouth where the pressure of the water in my body caused my blood vessels to burst.”
In October 1999 dialysis began and seven years later in October 2006 she had the life-saving transplant from Pete, 55.
“I went from lethargic to having energy. I could eat and drink what I wanted and my life changed. The kidney is still doing well and I feel great.”
In the meantime, Tracey can’t wait to get together with Pete again.
“Our favourite thing is going for a curry in Wednesbury and playing a game of Monopoly. I’ve been lucky to have such a good match and that my kidney is doing well.”
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."
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.
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.
