This is a page for other people’s blogs including “tribute” pages and stories of donors or recipients.
Carol Polizzi - Being overweight and high blood pressure, Carol decided to go on a diet. This diet would be the start of finding out just how ill she was.
Karen Brown - Suddenly out of the blue Karen was told she only had 5% kidney function and would need a transplant. This is her story. Also her husband Matt tells us what life is like for him. Ella their 6 year old daughter drew a beautiful picture and wrote about her mummy.
Nathanael Adams - Born with dysplastic kidneys he had a transplant as a toddler. That kidney lasted 17 years at which stage Nathanael had to go on dialysis and has now been waiting 9 years for a transplant. This is his story.
Michael (UK altruistic donor) - donated a kidney to a stranger.
Holly Shaw (UK recipient) – on dialysis for nearly four years then finally got her transplant.
Christian Brazier (UK altruistic Donor) – Christian donated his kidney altruistically. His post operation recovery did not go as smoothly as he and his family had hoped and Christian and his family still struggle to come to terms with the after effects of the donation.
Keith and Rebecca Farwell (Rebecca UK donor) – Keith unexpectedly died 2 months after receiving his wife’s kidney. Not all transplants are successful and I believe we need to know both sides – the successes and the tragic losses. As a tribute to Keith, Rebecca has written their “story”. To me it is a beautiful love story that so tragically ended well before its time.
Judy Ladd (USA carer) – looked after her husband who was on dialysis and who recently had a heart attack. (since this story was written sadly Judy’s husband died before getting a transplant)
Kamal Shah (India: 14 years on dialyis) – is on dialysis. His first transplant failed due to complications that may prevent him ever having another transplant. His years on dialysis have certainly had their ups and downs. He is a very positive person and he does not let dialysis rule his life.
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Hi all,
I was a living donor for my brother in January 2004. No problems with the operation or my health since. The difference it has made to my brother is amazing. He now takes part in the transplant Games in the UK every year, where he has won many gold medals. he also competed in the World games in Australia and Bangkok. We always have great fun at the games, and seeing the difference transplants have made to these peoples lifes is amazing. Would do it all again tomorrow if it was possible.
Lorraine,
That is so wonderful. Your brother sounds a great sports person. Just goes to show how healthy people are after transplants, how well they can work. Great you were able to donate, family are not always compatible. I expect you look back at times as to how your brother was before the transplant and now to see how he is now must seem like a miracle. Good luck to you both and keep those Golds coming in!! What an inspiration you both are.
Thank you for telling us about your brother and yourself. I so love reading these stories and they do truly inspire people.
All the best
Di
x
Hi,
Donated a kidney to my husband in 2009. It has made no difference to my lifestyle. In fact I know I am healthy due to pre op healthchecks and further follow ups. Unable to put into words how it feels to give someone back their life. It not only saved his life but gave my sons their father and my grand daughters their grandfather.
Would do this again without hesitation if I had another one spare!!
Hi Karen,
Thank you so much for posting, it is comments like yours that help to inspire other people to donate.
You mention one important “bonus” if you like with donating – that is not only is the recipient able to lead a normal life again but they are given back to their family. People who do not know too much about living donation do not often consider the family of the person needing the kidney and how it affects them as well – the whole family benefits, but especially the recipient.
I think most donors would agree with you that if we could, we would do it again.
All the best
Di
x
Hi everyone,
Just wanted to share my story. We are from the UK and my mum was diagnosed with end stage renal failure last year due to developing a hereditary kidney disease passed on by her mother and grandfather. Having a familial disease means that me and my brother and our other family members are unable to donate. So annoying, as I wish I could have done this for her. After having several tests, the transplant team informed me that it is possible that I may be in the same position as my mum later on in life and so they are not happy to take the risk of using me as a donor. To say I was devastated is an understatement.
My mum is a predialysis patient, which means that finding her a donor soon is imperative, it would mean she wouldn’t have to endure the debilitating treatment and recipients who are transplanted prior to dialysis have better long-term transplant survival. Plus as you will all probably know, the survival of transplants from living donors is significantly better, than from a deceased person and waiting for a deceased donor can take years.
My mums blood type is A-negative, but any type would be fine – with the ‘paired donation matching scheme’ incompatible blood/tissue donors and recipients can be placed on the transplant list as a pair and can exchange kidneys with another incompatible pair.
I know that creating a Facebook page for a living kidney donor is a rather unconventional approach, but it has proved successful in the past for other families, so I thought I would give it a go. If it means potentially saving my mums life and raising awareness of living kidney donation then it can’t be wrong. Before my mums diagnosis, I didn’t even know people could donate a kidney, I thought all transplants were done using the kidneys of deceased individuals, in cases of accidental death.
I would appreciate any help and support from you guys, whether you’re interested in being a donor or you just want to pass this information on to your friends & family to increase awareness; it would all mean a lot. Please ‘like’ and share my Facebook page on your walls, twitters or websites (link below). I would be grateful for any support offered.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and I thank everyone in advance for their efforts in helping us find a kidney donor for my mum.
Best wishes
Talulah
Link:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Help-find-a-living-kidney-donor-for-my-mum/345334168849821?sk=info