Page 23 - Changing Perceptions

Dela’s story

Donating a kidney may be one of the most important decisions you make
in your life, and it takes sacrifice and a lot of courage. Offering to become
my brother’s living donor was a natural thing for me to do, in fact it was a
no brainer! I loved him and I wanted him to live longer and regain his full
health and as his sister it was important for me to give him that chance.

Coming forward as a living donor was quite an emotional experience for
me and I had a roller coaster of emotions. I remember sitting in the kidney
clinic waiting room at Guy’s hospital on the 13th of January 2011 waiting
to be seen by Miri, my clinical nurse specialist desperately hoping that I
would be a match for my brother and I was!

It was a great feeling knowing that I was going to change my brother’s life.
But sadly after eight months of tests I was told that my health maybe at
risk if I donated so unfortunately I wouldn’t be able to help Tayo.

Through my disappointment, I founded Gift of Living Donation, I wanted to
use my experience to raise awareness of the benefits of living donation
so that more black people affected by chronic kidney disease can have
access to a living donor kidney transplant

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