“The difference my kidney transplant has made to my life is unbelievable."
My family has a long history of kidney issues. My grandma died of kidney failure, though she was completely oblivious of having kidney problems her whole life. My mum ended up in hospital in her fifties. Again, she knew nothing about the problem before then, but suddenly was told that she had something called polycystic kidney disease, which would eventually lead to full kidney failure. She would need to either start life on dialysis, where she’d need to be hooked up to a machine several times every week, or else she’d need to get a kidney transplant.
That moment felt like a big box opening for all of us. Suddenly everybody realised that the health issues the family had been experiencing were linked. We knew next to nothing about the kidneys before then. Even afterwards we didn’t know much about it at all, so we just pushed on with our lives. What else could we do?
Fast forward many years, and I found out that I had a water infection. I didn’t think much of it at first and assumed it would get better on its own, but it gradually got worse and worse, until I ended up in hospital. I told the hospital team that my mum had kidney disease and they immediately realised my issue. They treated my infection, but also discovered that I too had polycystic kidney disease. They explained, it’s quite common for people to live with some sort of early kidney disease and never even realise, until it reaches a precipice and drastic action is needed.
I’m married to a mountaineer. He first really introduced me to outdoor living and making the most of the natural world. We lived a better life than I ever did before – we stayed fit, drank lots of fluids, and ate well. That all helped to keep me fitter for longer. But I still knew that this was just delaying my kidney disease. It would progress slower because of my healthy lifestyle, but it would still progress.
Dialysis or donation
When I was told that I would either need a kidney transplant or to start dialysis, I knew what my preference was. I had seen what dialysis involved for my mum, and I knew it wasn’t something I wanted for myself if there was any alternative. Dialysis keeps you alive, but it takes away your capacity of life. Three or four times a week getting attached to a big machine that takes out your blood, cleans it, and puts it back in. I didn’t want that for myself.
I hadn’t discussed my kidney disease much with friends and family. They knew I lived with it, but I didn’t want to be defined by it or let it rule my life. At this point, though, I realised I needed to speak more openly about my illness. Otherwise, nobody could step forward and donate, even if they would be open to it.
I put a message on social media explaining my situation and that I was looking for a kidney donation, or else be faced with life on dialysis. In the end, my friend Lisa came to the rescue.
The road to a transplant
I had known Lisa for years. We used to go out together a lot, but lost touch with one another after we remarried. We hadn’t seen each other in ages, but always knew we were there for each other if it was needed. She saw my post on social media, and messaged: “You can have one of my kidneys!”
There was a lot of back and forth with the hospital to make sure she was healthy enough to donate and if her kidney was a good enough match to be accepted by my body. In the end, they said she was a perfect match!
Before I knew it, the day of the operation had arrived. I’m the type of person who just wants to get on with things, so the waiting period while Lisa was getting tested didn’t hugely bother me. When we got to the day itself, we were certainly very emotional about what we were about to do, but I just wanted to get in and get it done. That’s how I am!
As soon as I woke up in the recovery ward, I was told that Lisa’s kidney had been successfully transplanted inside me and was working perfectly. I felt amazing almost immediately! I could really feel the difference in myself. They brought Lisa down from her ward to see me, and we just both started crying. It had been a bit of an emotional journey, and we were just so happy that everything had gone as planned.
Lisa’s own operation was tougher than mine. I’d had invasive surgery to my own kidneys some years before and I knew it was more painful for her than it was for me. She was off work for eight weeks before she could get back to normal, though she had loads of help from friends and family during that time. After that initial recovery period, though, she told me that she hardly felt a difference. She never noticed the fact that she was living with just one kidney. I can’t thank her enough for the sacrifice she made for me.
Walking to Recovery
My own recovery was incredible. I was back to walking exercises within two weeks – we’d go out and walk half a mile, then next time we’d try a mile, and so on. Soon enough Lisa started joining me too and we’d build up our ‘recovery walks’ together.
I remember getting hugely emotional one day after a long walk. We had driven some way from home and our surroundings were stunning. It hit me then – I couldn’t have done this if it wasn’t for Lisa. She gave me this freedom, this opportunity to make so much of life. It just meant so much to me.
After a while of doing these walks together, we thought we should do something to give back and raise awareness about the life-changing benefits of living kidney donation. We planned a 25-mile charity walk!
We did as much awareness-raising and fundraising as we were able. We did loads of training wherever we could and kept posting updates on social media. We even featured in the local newspaper, just trying to raise as much awareness as possible about what living donation involves, what it means to someone in my situation, and the reality of what’s actually involved.
My new life
Looking back, it all feels like a dream. I consider myself incredibly lucky. I had kidney cancer some years ago, but we managed to get it out before I had any issues. I have polycystic kidney disease, but Lisa’s incredible donation has meant I can still live my life without dialysis and enjoy every day.
Lisa’s kidney is a gift from heaven. It’s priceless. She’s described it to me as something relatively easy for her. She had a few tough months of recovering, but since then her life has gone back to normal, as if nothing ever changed. But to me, I can’t describe the benefit it’s given. If someone is reading this and is seriously considering donating, then they’re made of gold in my eyes.
I can never thank Lisa enough for what she’s given me – though I’ll always keep trying! She has said to me, “Thank me by living the life I want.” So that’s what I aim to do.
“I wanted to share my kidney donation story to help build awareness of the good that we all can do to help someone worse off.”
Read“It’s amazing how a small amount of inconvenience on my part can make such a huge difference to someone else.”
Read20 years ago, David's enthusiasm for life was put to the test when he found out his kidneys were failing and he would need a transplant.
ReadAisha is determined to raise awareness of living kidney donation and encourage more people in South Asian communities to consider donating.
Read"My husband was living on dialysis, and I saw the constant reality of what that meant for him."
Read"I set myself clear goals to return to fitness and running after my kidney donation."
Read"This is me, Louise Sach, shortly after I was diagnosed with chronic renal failure."
Read"It has now been over a year since my donation. I have zero pain or discomfort, and I am entirely back to normal with nothing but a scar to remind me of my experience."
ReadRachel already knew more than she wanted to about the process of kidney donation before she gave her spare kidney to someone she didn’t know.
ReadHenry donated a kidney to his sister Helen, and has seen first-hand the difference a donation can make for someone with kidney disease.
Read“It has made absolutely no difference to my day-to-day life. My mum, however, has a life like never before.”
ReadNaomi knew she wanted to donate a kidney after learning about kidney disease and reality of life on dialysis.
ReadEmma 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.
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.
