Naomi’s Story

I donated a kidney in October 2021 and before that, I didn’t have much exposure to kidney disease. No one I knew had it, so it wasn’t something I’d really encountered. 

One day, I came across a post on Facebook about a family struggling with the effects of kidney disease and waiting for a donation for their child. It moved me deeply and set me on a path of thinking seriously about becoming a living organ donor. 

I began researching kidney donation and what it involved. Initially, I was pretty unaware of the details – like the fact that you can live with just one kidney. I wanted to educate myself as much as possible, so I dove into everything I could find about the process. 

Through my research, I began to grasp the reality of living with kidney disease. The more I learned, the more compelled I felt to donate. One thing that stood out was the shortage of kidney donations from the Black community. Black patients often wait longer for a transplant because there are fewer donors who are a strong match. This highlighted the urgent need for more donors to come forward, especially from underrepresented groups, to help reduce these wait times. 

What really solidified my decision was learning about life on dialysis. I had assumed that people waiting for a kidney were just managing their condition with medication, but I quickly realised how much of their lives were consumed by dialysis. It dictates what they can do, where they can go, and even how much energy they have each day. The thought that someone could regain their freedom and quality of life through a kidney donation really resonated with me. If I could change someone’s life with one surgery, why wouldn’t I do it? 

As I continued my research, I learned about the extensive testing required to ensure you’re healthy enough to donate. This only encouraged me more, knowing that they take such care to ensure it’s safe for the donor. Since you can opt out at any point in the process, I figured, why not see if I was eligible? There was no reason not to at least explore the possibility. 

When I told my husband I was considering donating my kidney, we had an initial conversation, and he supported the idea. But in reality he probably didn’t think much would come of it as it really was just an idea. However, we both saw the potential for good that could come from it.  

I didn’t tell anyone else until after I’d completed the first round of testing and was cleared to donate. When I did, the responses were mixed. Some family members were concerned and didn’t want me to go through with it. I completely understood their worries. They wondered, what if someone in our family needed a kidney in the future? I had thought about that too, but in the end, the benefits outweighed the risks for me. No one in our family had kidney disease, and even if someone did, there was no guarantee that I’d be a match for them. We had a lot of discussions, and while it wasn’t an easy decision, I knew in my heart it was the right thing to do. 

When the day of the operation finally arrived, I was excited more than anything. It felt like I had been preparing for this for so long, and I was eager to get it done. 

The recovery, honestly, was tougher than I expected. Healing and the pain lasted longer than I had anticipated and I had trouble finding a comfortable position. But I kept reminding myself that my discomfort was temporary, while the person receiving my kidney was getting a new lease of life. That made everything worth it.  

Now, years after the donation, I can confidently say I have no regrets. I feel the same physically as I did before the surgery, and my life hasn’t been impacted at all in that regard. But emotionally, it’s been a source of strength. Whenever I face moments of self-doubt or have a tough day at work, I can tap into the knowledge that I made a difference in someone’s life. 

I don’t think the experience has radically changed my perspective on life, but it has helped me understand myself better and recognise my drive to help others. I’ve also realised how people often see living organ donors as rare or exceptional, almost like unicorns. But I wish more people would shift their perspective. So many of us would be willing to accept a kidney or a blood transfusion if we needed it, but far fewer of us are willing to donate – whether it’s blood, or especially organs, even after death.  

I hope my story helps change that mindset. Organ and blood donation can truly change lives, and if more people considered it, we could significantly reduce the number of people on waiting lists, especially in communities that are underserved like the black community. We need more of us to help make a difference for each other.