Join our mailing list

Stephanie’s Story

My husband, Howard, was diagnosed with Stage 4 kidney failure in 2018. His kidneys had deteriorated over a 20-year period due to high blood pressure.

We were fortunate enough to be able to proceed with the kidney donation pre-emptively, before he needed to go on dialysis. I wasn’t the best possible match, but was advised I was good enough and that living donation is the “gold standard” for kidney donations, so it was worth moving forward. 

Deciding to donate was absolutely a no brainer. I would do it again in a heartbeat if I had a spare kidney! I feel it was not only life changing for my husband, but for me as a person.  I was fortunate enough to meet two other donors who had donated to their partners and their support was invaluable. If you are thinking of donating, I would say try and find someone who has done it before making up your mind. It will really made a world of difference. 

The experience of testing and assessment took a few months. Nothing unpleasant, blood tests and scans of my kidneys and bladder to make sure I was in tip top health to proceed. We were allocated our own respective donor- and recipient-nurses who answered every question we had. We always felt 100% supported by the renal team, they could not have been kinder.  I tried to get as fit as possible before my surgery as we were told this does aid recovery time afterwards. 

Living kidney donor with her husband and kidney recipient Howard on the morning of their first surgery

I almost skipped into the operating theatre the morning of surgery. We had waited over a year to get everything in place. The anaesthetist came to see me to sign a form before the operation and asked me to choose a couple of songs. I chose upbeat songs:  Staying Alive by The Bee Gees and Simply The Best by Tina Turner. I hadn’t expected music, it was fun! 

The surgery went very smoothly and took a couple of hours before I woke up in recovery and chatted to the surgeon. She told me that they had started Howard’s transplant, he was in the operating theatre right next door to me. 

I was in hospital for 2-3 days after my operation, during which I went to see Howard who was on a different ward. He was in good shape! It was quite uncomfortable afterwards, but Mother Nature does her thing and I was soon back on my feet. Our wonderful supportive daughter, Gemma, brought me home. 

My recovery was quick with no complications. I was able to resume walking in the park fairly quickly and was back in the gym soon after. Howard felt fine as well and came out of hospital a few days later. It took him a little while to adjust to the necessary drugs, but I’m delighted to say he is fit and well. 

After the donation, I went back for a three-month check-up and now have annual blood tests. The hospital said to look upon it as a free health MOT! 

We now travel and enjoy life to the full. I would urge anyone who can to consider donation, whether to family member or directed. 

Related Stories

Gita’s Story

Gita’s Story

"At the beginning it seemed like a difficult decision to make, but since the operation I don’t have any regrets."

Read
Tessa’s Story

Tessa’s Story

Tessa believes that donating a kidney to a stranger is one of the best decisions she's ever made.

Read
Lynn’s Story

Lynn’s Story

Lynn was 75 when she donated a kidney altruistically. "I knew I wanted to do it if I was capable of doing so."

Read
Rich’s Story

Rich’s Story

“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."

Read
Laura’s Story

Laura’s Story

Laura knew she would donate a kidney to her sister if she needed it. When the time came, she found the process absolutely worth it.

Read
Allison’s Story

Allison’s Story

Matt'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
Juliette’s Story

Juliette’s Story

"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
David’s Story

David’s Story

"I believe that if you are in a position to help someone else less fortunate than yourself, then you should do so."

Read
Elaine & Paul’s Story

Elaine & Paul’s Story

Every 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
Stuart’s Story

Stuart’s Story

"I feel immeasurably better in myself knowing I have been able to give my brother the gift of a healthy life."

Read
Dennis’ Story

Dennis’ Story

Dennis is keen to show people that you can still live your life as normal and achieve great things after donating a kidney.

Read
Ali’s Story

Ali’s Story

When Ali heard that a former colleague was waiting for a kidney transplant, he knew within minutes that he would offer one of his.

Read
Dishna’s Story

Dishna’s Story

"My mum needed a kidney, and I didn’t need both of mine. When I heard that, I didn't have any hesitation."

Read
Kathryn’s Story

Kathryn’s Story

Kathryn faced life-changing kidney failure after being diagnosed with the rare disease, IgA vasculitis.

Read
Marianne’s Story

Marianne’s Story

Marianne 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.

Read
Ben’s Story

Ben’s Story

Ben felt drained by kidney disease for over 12 years before his cousin gave him a second chance at life by donating his kidney.

Read
Julie’s Story

Julie’s Story

Julie donated to her son and knows first hand that donating an organ doesn’t just save a person. It saves a family.

Read
Anne’s Story

Anne’s Story

Anne donated into the UK Living Kidney Sharing Scheme so that her brother could receive a kidney transplant.

Read
Prafula’s Story

Prafula’s Story

"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
James & Claire’s Story

James & Claire’s Story

"If I had more Kidneys to give, I'd be donating to anyone who needed one."

Read
Mike’s Story

Mike’s Story

Mike donated a kidney to his sister Julie as soon as he found out she was ill.

Read
Mark’s Story

Mark’s Story

Trainee teacher Mark is grateful for the life-saving kidney transplant from his brother that put him back on track for life and his career.

Read
Daisy-May’s Story

Daisy-May’s Story

Sheldon & 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.

Read
Ruby’s Story

Ruby’s Story

My donor gave me a life to live for. I have done things I had never considered doing whilst on dialysis.

Read
David’s Story

David’s Story

David 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.

Read
Cheryl’s Story

Cheryl’s Story

40 years ago, Kathleen donated one of her kidneys to Cheryl, who was just five years old at the time.

Read
Di’s Story

Di’s Story

"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."

Read
Liz’s Story

Liz’s Story

Liz's family struggled at first with her determination to donate her kidney to someone unrelated to her.

Read
Shaun’s Story

Shaun’s Story

"I donated a kidney to my dad 10 years ago, aged 25. To me, it was a no brainer."

Read
Sarah’s Story

Sarah’s Story

Sarah had seen the life-changing difference donating a kidney could have, and immediately knew it was something she wanted to do.

Read
John’s story

John’s story

I would not feel as comfortable in my own skin as I do now if I had not donated my kidney.

Read
Sanjiv’s story

Sanjiv’s story

"Once the idea of donating a kidney had got into my head, that was it."

Read
Tracey’s Story

Tracey’s Story

Pete’s kidney gave me my life back and gave my son Edward a mum with energy and vitality.

Read

Ready to
Start Your
Journey?

GET IN TOUCH