My journey started in early 2024 with an email from the NHS. I’ve been a blood donor for a few years now, and the email was about other ways that I can help them. One of the options was donating one of my kidneys to someone in need of one. That email spiked an interest in the topic, and the journey began.
My inspiration was my wife Claire, who passed away in 2016 from cancer. She was such a giving person and helped so many other breast cancer sufferers, that I thought I could do my bit as well.
After filling in all the forms I was given to start the process, it all went a little quiet for a while. Then one morning at work I had a phone call from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham to ask if I would come in for a consultation. I must admit, that was the most scariest time of the whole procedure. The realisation that this may now happen! Anyway I arranged the appointment and went in to see the transplant coordinator, Surinder.
I was obviously quite nervous and very ignorant of what I was about to get involved with, but on meeting Surinder, I was put at ease straight away. She explained the process to me and outlined what would happen at every point in the journey. The main thing that she said to me was that I was her main concern, and that at every step of the way she and her team would be looking after me and my interests. It was quite an emotional experience for me and when I found out that my one donation may help more than one person by entering the UK Living Kidney Sharing Scheme. My emotions got the better of me and the tears did flow.
During this process I found the www.donateakidney.co.uk website, which gave a great insight as to what would happen during the donation, and I read many of the stories of previous donors sharing their experiences. It gave me the confidence to go ahead with my donation.
My journey had started and there were many visits to the hospital. In all, the tests honestly amazed me. It turned out to be the best health checkup I’d ever had in my life. Being pumped full of radioactive fluid so as they could see the function of my kidneys was something else! I think I glowed in the dark that night.
The whole team were fantastic and the whole process was made easy by their kind and caring attitude. I began to realise what it really meant to be a living kidney donor.
The day of my operation was the culmination of all the visits and test that I’d had done over the last few months. I was shown my bed and told to relax before any pre-operation checks were carried out. I was the only donor in the ward, the other men there were all recipients and kidney patients. I spoke to one gentleman who was in his 70s and was in for a check-up. He told me of his daily routine and the restricted life that he led because of his condition and dialysis. He told me I was doing an amazing thing and that I should be very proud of what I was doing. It was nice to hear from someone who knew first-hand what it was like and how my donation was going to change someone’s life.
When I woke up after the operation, I felt more uncomfortable than painful, but with pain killers and plenty of care I was feeling fine.
The next 24 hours were just about recovery and getting me mobile, sitting up, walking small steps, getting some rest and eating a little with plenty of fluids. My emotions were high, as the operation went well and I was told that the recipient’s operation went well also.
My operation was on a Tuesday and I was discharged on the Friday to go home… Job done!
As I write this now, I am a few months on from my donation. I’m a 69-year-old man and still working in the building trade. Recovery has been good – it’s had its highs and lows as was expected, but with the help of some amazing friends and family, I am now virtually back to normal with no ill effects at all. In fact, I’m back doing my yoga and Pilates three times a week and feeling great. Not bad for an “old boy”!
Since donating, I’ve heard that my recipient and all the other parties involved (6 in total including me) are all doing well. That for me is the news that I wanted to hear. To give someone a chance of a better life is a once in a lifetime achievement. Would I do it again? Without a shadow of a doubt.
