Giving life to another person is a journey. At the end of it, there is joy. The road isn’t always smooth, but with love, humour and the support of the professionals in health and care, it can be well travelled.
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changing perceptions
Vanessa’s story
22 In 2017 I chose to donate one of my kidneys and give life to my son again!
Jamal had been diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome in 2013 when he was just 17yrs old. The condition is a collective of issues surrounding the collapse of the kidney filtration system and this entails the functioning of the kidneys to deteriorate.
Jamal went from being an energetic young man to a very tired and heavily medicated one.
Although I have to mention he was inspirational, as he never complained about all his discomforts and bouts of attacks that he was constantly suffering from. His love of music upheld his morale and he later went on to study at University and produce some wonderful music and give others pleasure by being a DJ at numerous events.
Jamal inspired me to become a donor as he continued enjoying his young life even though he was faced with this debilitating condition. The transplant at the Royal Free hospital has given him another shot at life and it’s opened up more opportunities for him.
It is an amazing selfless act as a living donor, to put oneself through numerous tests and then to undergo an operation when you are in good health. However it is most rewarding to know you have turned a person’s life around.
Sarah’s story
The journey towards understanding the true meaning of being a living donor cannot really be described, a living donor becomes that chink of light, that hope, in a darkened room.
I became a donor to my beautiful mother in 2004 and I have never looked back. Perhaps, the fact that my elder sister 14 years prior had donated her kidney to our mother meant that it wasn’t anything special that I was doing, so following in my sister’s footsteps just felt natural.
Isobel Gordon was my living donor nurse specialist at Guy’s hospital, she took me under her wing and really helped me through the whole process. The care, support and help she gave me throughout is something that I will never forget as it helped to alleviate any fears and concerns that I had. I take this opportunity to say thank you to all the staff and doctors at Guy’s & St Thomas’ Hospital Foundation Trust you all deserve medals for the work you do.
It is extremely incredible how far surgeons have come in the field of live donor transplants. When I came forward as a donor I had open surgery, whereas now one has keyhole surgery which is less invasive.
Living donation is truly life changing for our loved ones. The freedom you give them from dialysis can’t be measured. If you are reading this and you have a mum like mine who needs a kidney transplant, don’t wait to be asked, offer to be her donor and transform her life!