Anne donated into the UK Living Kidney Sharing Scheme so that her brother could receive a kidney transplant.
I am a mother of two children – Liam who is 28 and Nicole, 26-years-old. I am married to my husband Olly and we all live in a small town just outside Bristol. I am the second eldest of four children. I work as an Administrative Assistant in a local School.
My younger brother, Ross, was on the NHS waiting list for a kidney and so needed to be on daily/nightly peritoneal dialysis. As a family some of us were tested to see if we were a match for Ross; our dad was a direct match, but after lots of tests there were complications so he was unable to donate. I then received a call from the Donor Team at my local hospital to ask if I would consider donating through the UK Living Kidney Sharing System. I didn’t hesitate to put myself forward.
After a few months of various scans and blood tests we then received the amazing news that I had been matched with someone, and a match had been found for Ross!
My brother lives in Leeds, so on the day of the surgery I had my operation in Bristol and he had his in Leeds. My procedure was completed in a few hours followed by a three-night stay in hospital. For the month leading up to the surgery I was eating healthy, not drinking any alcohol, and getting lots of exercise to make sure I was in the best shape for the operation.
I was told that the recovery time would be around six weeks, however three weeks after the surgery I went on a cruise around the Med. (This holiday was booked well before the operation and I felt fine to go, so we did.) The holiday was a great help in my recovery as I spent the whole week relaxing.
Since the surgery I don’t feel any different, I live my life exactly the same way I did before I donated.
I would recommend becoming a living kidney donor to anyone who is able to. It’s such an easy thing to do, yet you are literally saving someone from a life of dialysis. To everyone to put themselves forward for donation, it’s such an easy thing to do yet you are giving someone back their life.
Dennis 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.
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.
