"I feel really happy in myself that I had the opportunity to help my sister the way I have."
My sister Emma was diagnosed with type-1 diabetes when she was 11. It resulted in a lot of issues, including affecting her eyesight, and by her late 20s her kidneys had failed. She was very lucky at the time and was able to get a joint kidney and pancreas transplant. It lasted 20 years in total, which was pretty good going! It also meant she never had to go on dialysis, which we were all really thankful for.
Over time, however, her kidney function started to deteriorate again. At its lowest her kidney was functioning at 6%. She was a single mum, with two kids in their teens, and it was obvious that her condition was causing her real issues. She never had any energy at all, she was just constantly fatigued.
Her renal team had prepped her about the idea of needing another kidney transplant at some point, and had mentioned living donation. Receiving a kidney from a deceased donor would be a very long, potentially indefinite wait, and so we realised that living kidney donation was really the only option.
Eventually she was told that she would need another kidney transplant, or else she’d be looking at starting dialysis to clean her blood. Seeing how the kidney issues were affecting her and how well her first transplant helped her the first time round, it was a no brainer to put myself forward.
Myself and our other sister said we’d start testing to see if we could donate a kidney to her. Ironically my other sister’s two children have polycystic kidney disease, so after some more discussions we decided I should move forward and she would hold off in case her kids needed one in the future. One of Emma’s friends also put herself forward for testing, but in the end the timing didn’t work out for her, so I went ahead with the testing.
The tests lasted almost a year in total. We learnt that I wasn’t a direct match for Emma, as I was a different blood type, but they explained about the UK Living Kidney Sharing Scheme where I could my kidney to someone out there who was a better match for me, then Emma would get their better-matching kidney from the other recipient’s donor in return. Again, it just felt like a no-brainer. We were lucky that there was a matching run for the sharing scheme happening only a few weeks after my tests, and they immediately found a match for us. It felt so speedy, it was great!
When the day finally came, everything went like clockwork. It all felt so coordinated, and everything was explained to us really well so we always knew what was going on.
There was a lot of fingers crossed though, as all it would take was one of the donors or recipients to have a cold and they’d have to delay it all. Thankfully though, it all went off without a hitch! Emma got her kidney successfully (we later found out her kidney was from an altruistic donor), while my kidney was sent off to someone else in need, who also had a donor on her behalf and whose kidney was sent to someone else on the waiting list. The sharing scheme really is incredible.
The difference we all saw in Emma after the transplant was unbelievable. Her kidney function went from 6% up to 49% in the space of a few days. Her energy came back soon after that. I got my sister back.
To be honest, the recovery period straight after the transplant hit me quite hard. I had always been healthy before, I’d never even taken a day off work for illness, so it was a bit of a shock to feel this pain and discomfort from a major operation. But every day I felt better and better – I was back to work and exercising again after a couple of weeks, and my energy levels were back to normal within a month. Soon, it was as if my operation had never even happened!
Before my transplant, I was put in touch with someone else who had donated a kidney themselves. I remember being really keen to learn more about the recovery period and whether I’d have any scarring or lower energy levels afterwards. It’s something you worry about as you get older, but actually it’s not something I’ve noticed since my transplant.
Speaking to someone was really useful for me, so when the UK Living Kidney Donation Buddy Support Service launched I quickly put myself forward to be a Buddy for others thinking about donating. Hopefully I can offer someone the same words of support and experience that really helped me during my journey.
The whole process definitely brought me and Emma closer together. My operation and recovery was nothing like what she’s been through, but it’s given me a newfound respect for what she goes through every day. She’s still not out of the woods, but the transplant has given her one less thing to worry about. She’s still a single mum needing to support herself and her family, but now she doesn’t have to worry about fitting dialysis into that equation too.
For me, the whole experience has been really positive. Physically there have been no disadvantages – a bit of short-term pain and a couple of small scars on my stomach, but nothing else. If anything, I’m now living a healthier life than before because I understand more about the kidney and try to make healthier decisions to protect my remaining one. And mentally I feel really happy in myself that I had the opportunity to help my sister the way I have. That’s my perspective!
"We had seen the impact of a transplant first hand. It provides a chance of a normal life."
Read"The difference we’ve seen in my sister since her transplant has been absolutely incredible."
Read"It felt just like donating blood, but with more checks. If I could help someone, then I wanted to do it."
ReadWhen his younger brother, George, was suddenly diagnosed with kidney disease, Ed was determined to support him in any way he could.
Read"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."
ReadA 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.
