The operation itself went as well as it possibly could have. Throughout our whole journey, all the healthcare professionals we spoke to were fantastic at giving us information and explaining everything to us. The anaesthetist asked me what music I liked and put it on for me. It was easy!
The first few days after surgery were pretty difficult. The donation team had been great at explaining what to expect and I knew the facts of it all, but you don’t really know how your body will react until you actually experience it. It was very painful at first and I had so little energy. I was used to having the energy levels of a relatively healthy 25-year-old, so it was a bit of a shock. It made me realise – this must have been how my dad felt before the operation. That recovery period put me in his shoes. That time really hit home what he’d been through.
After the operation, another doctor came to me who had been at my operation. I had so many questions I wanted to ask – will my dad be okay? Will his body reject the kidney? What happens now? She explained everything to me, and I got the epic news that the operation had been a success and my dad was doing well. It was incredible to hear he say that, words can’t do it justice!
My dad was in a separate bay of the hospital and we were able to see each other the next day. When we did, the emotions were through the roof! It meant so much that I could be there for him during that time, that we were going through that journey together.
The pain went away in a few weeks. I still remember my first sneeze while I was recovering, as it was Summer and I suffer from hay fever. It was so painful! But with each day, I felt noticeably better. I was back to work in a couple of months, though I’d arranged a phased return to ease myself back in. In the beginning, I was absolutely shattered after a few hours. I’d say it took me about a year before my energy levels felt back to where they were before. I wouldn’t change a thing and don’t regret donating at all, but it’s important people know that the full recovery can take time.
