Page 21 - Changing Perceptions

Sarah’s story:

The journey towards understanding the true meaning of being a living do-
nor cannot really be described, a living donor becomes that chink of light,
that hope, in a darken 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
Guys & 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!

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