"Someone out there in need of a kidney has been set free and I don’t even feel any different to how I was before."
Colin: I first considered giving a kidney about a year ago. My Christian faith definitely played a large part in why I wanted to donate. I considered it a privilege to be able to help somebody else. At the time I wasn’t aware of anything like the Donate a Kidney website and had no real knowledge of the process, so just googled the questions I wanted answering about the process. After some searching, I found the right email address to contact my local transplant unit, and everything went from there.
Everything took place in Belfast City Hospital. I had the same living donor coordinator, Nicola, help guide me through the whole process from start to finish. She was brilliant at explaining everything I should expect and why each step was needed.
The scans, testings and meetings probably took 4-5 months in total, and everything was very straightforward. I have a condition called Ataxia, which affects my muscle coordination. They said that they had never had a donor with ataxia before! But it never effected my donation in any way.
The day of the surgery was fine. I was actually very relaxed! Nicola came to the anaesthetic room with me and said “you’re very chilled!”
I went to surgery at 8:30am, then the next thing I knew I was waking up on the ward. I was told the surgery all went well. I donated my kidney to a stranger so I don’t know how the recipient is, though I was told their surgery was also a success and they were doing well.
I was in hospital for three days. On the first day of recovery, I was able to get up unaided and sit in a chair without any problems. I wouldn’t describe what I had as pain, more discomfort, which lasted around two weeks.
At the time of writing, three weeks after my surgery, I feel just as I did before the surgery. I’ve just got back from a nice bike ride feeling completely normal – though I was reminded by a friend that I was never really normal to begin with!
To anybody considering donating a kidney, I can say that I would not even know I have one kidney right now. Someone out there in need of a kidney has been set free and has a new life because of my kidney, then within even a few weeks I don’t even feel any different to how I was before.
Colin’s ataxia condition meant that additions were needed to allow his inspiring donation to go ahead. Read on for the words of Colin’s Living Donor Coordinator, Nicola, discussing his journey and how they adjusted the testing process to allow him to donate:
Nicola: When Colin first approached our service to be an altruistic kidney donor we were unsure if this would be an option for him, due to his ataxia. I met with Colin to discuss our programme and find out a little bit about his motivations, but also to gauge how his functionality was with day-to-day activities. The consensus of the team was that we wouldn’t want to take this opportunity away from Colin, given that he is very fit and active, and so motivated to help someone.
Following our meeting, we added an additional step in the process for Colin, and this was to discuss his case with our nephrologist and surgeons at this early stage. We made minor adjustments to our assessment day to meet Colin’s needs; for example, our consultant came to the ward to see Colin rather than him going out to our outpatient’s clinic. Colin even had a few extra trips to the hospital for scans that were unable to be completed on his assessment day, which he was always more than willing to attend.
Prior to donation, we let all our team know of Colin’s functional baseline to ensure they knew this was not of concern to us. As Colin mentioned, ataxia effects his muscle coordinator and therefore he can be unsteady on his feet. His speech can also be affected. Our ward staff and theatres knew this, and we made sure his independence was promoted. We were delighted surgery went ahead for Colin and that he made a speedy recovery, now back out cycling miles on his bike.
Colin was very easy to work with and more than willing to do whatever it took to donate. He was so chilled throughout the whole process, even going to theatre! Colin’s motivation is inspiring and reminded us as coordinators why we love the job we do. His funny sense of humour added an element of fun too.
It was a privilege to guide Colin through his donation journey and great to see him achieve what he had hoped. Altruistic donors like Colin are incredible, selfless people and we are always so grateful for the gift they give!
A kidney donation from John's daughter meant that he is now able to enjoy time with his great granddaughter.
Read"I hope my story shows just what a wonderful, life-saving gift it is to donate a kidney."
Read"I’ve seen how donating a kidney can improve a family and give somebody back their life after years of suffering.”
Read"If I had three kidneys, I’d absolutely donate another one tomorrow, unquestionably."
Read“I’m a great believer that when you light a lamp for somebody, it will also brighten your path.”
Read"It’s now been almost 13 years since I donated, and nothing has changed in terms of my health or my lifestyle."
Read"Here was a chance to do something kind without having to wait for someone I know to need my support."
Read"Seeing how it helped my brother has made it all so, so worth it. As much as the journey was scary, it’s proven to be so rewarding."
Read“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.
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.
