Kate’s Story

15 years ago I was asked, as a Humanist, to speak at the annual service of remembrance for kidney donors/recipients in Newcastle. I was so moved by the accounts people gave of waiting for a kidney or people whose loved ones had died and they’d donated a kidney that, on the way out, I asked one of the transplant nurses if there was anything I could do to help. She said that I could always donate a kidney.  

I went home and gave this a lot of thought. I spoke to my husband and children about this. They were initially very surprised and not altogether in favour of my donating but, when I explained my reasoning and they came round to the idea. They became more comfortable with the plan as time passed and they got used to it and, by the time I had the operation, they were very supportive. 

I did some research on living kidney donation. Being a nurse helped enormously as I already knew a lot about anatomy and physiology. I researched the process of laparoscopic donation and there weren’t any surprises, and decided that I would put myself forward. 

I telephoned the donor nurses and spoke to them. Then followed a lengthy process of screening and various interviews to make sure I really understood what I was doing and was sure it was what I wanted.  

Eventually after about a year of the testing process, I had “passed” everything and a date was set. 

The thing I hadn’t anticipated was how painful wind is. It was far more painful than the operation itself. I would advise people to take peppermint water in with them. 

I was discharged 2 days later. I was pretty tired for about a week and then felt back to normal.  

I am able to do everything I did before -there have been no negative consequences for me. I have no regrets at all, and am very pleased I was able to save someone’s life.  

After the operation, my family were massively relieved that it had gone uneventfully and were then even more happy that I had made that decision. Now, 14 years on, they are glad I did this as it was clearly what I wanted to do and was in line with my Humanist principles. 

I would advise anyone considering donating to take their time making the decision so they are sure it’s what they want to do. I was asked repeatedly, at every stage of the process including when I was in the anaesthetic room, whether I was sure I wanted to go ahead. It was almost as if they were trying to talk me out of it! I never felt that I had passed the point of no return. 

As a nurse and health visitor, I have always done my best to improve people’s lives and feel this was simply an extension of that. I had a spare kidney that someone needed to save their life. It was a no brainer that I should let them have it.