Henry’s Story

My sister Helen was born with a type of kidney disease called probable renal dysplasia that was discovered when she was 4 years old. She was monitored by a renal paediatric team as she grew up, but otherwise lived quite a normal life. As she got older, however, her kidney function kept getting worse. Around her final years of medical school, she was told that she had late stage 4, and then stage 5, chronic kidney disease. It really affected her, and meant that she had to keep an eye on her day-to-day diet, her work, and what activities she could do. 

Getting tested to see if I could donate a kidney 

All in all, the testing process was around 18 months from the initial compatibility tests to the final survey. I was guided through everything by the lovely nurses at Guys and St Thomas Hospital, who kept me very well informed about what to expect and would always check in on how I was feeling about upcoming tests and the process in general. Apart from an issue with my cystoscopy (perhaps the one procedure you don’t want to do twice!) everything went smoothly and painlessly. 

Getting used to life with one kidney 

Recovery on the ward was fine, particularly as we both had lots of friends and family visit who could distract us. The wound where they took out my kidney was a bit sore on the first day of recovery, but the fentanyl drip they gave me took care of most of that – which came with the added benefit of allowing me to follow the Arsenal game that night anxiety-free (good job, because we lost).  

I would also advise anyone with an upcoming transplant date to watch what you eat after the procedure. You may feel fine, but getting it in isn’t the problem – as you find out over the next couple of days… 

My mobility was limited for a couple of weeks, but I am fortunate enough to be able to work from home so was able to get back pretty quickly afterwards. After about three months I could start running again (with no issues) and I was back racing again within six months. 

The effect on my sister 

Helen seems to be a lot better since receiving my kidney – after the initial ups and downs of recovery from the operation, she has more energy in herself. She’s now been able to complete her foundation junior doctor years. She now plans on travelling to Australia – something she wouldn’t have been able to do before.  

My advice for someone considering living kidney donation 

Do the first step. It’s easy to overthink it, and you don’t know how you will feel until you are hitting each milestone. The living kidney donor team are 100% focused on you – making sure that you never feel under pressure to continue something you aren’t comfortable with. By the time the surgery comes around, you are so well informed that it’s as if you have done it before! The only real surprise is the feelings you have for yourself, the recipient, and the team around you knowing you have been through something special together.