Page 24 - Changing Perceptions

Bertram’s story

I embarked on a journey that for many people from the black community
would be unthinkable. In 2017 at St Georges Hospital I donated a kidney to
Hayley my wife through the kidney sharing scheme. In 2012, Hayley was
diagnosed with a condition called Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis
(FSGS), a condition that caused her kidneys to deteriorate. I saw the dete-
rioration in my wife close up and personal, she was physically and emo-
tionally drained. I was not a match for Hayley but when I found out about
the kidney sharing scheme(KSS) I put myself forward.

The KSS is donor-recipient pairs who are incompatible by Human Leu-
cocyte Antigen (HLA) type or ABO blood group and are unable to donate
directly to their loved ones. They are registered in a national scheme to
achieve compatible transplants with other pairs.

I had a battery of tests, scans and screening over several months and
then had to wait for the “run” this is where donors and recipients medical
details are put into the computer for a suitable match.

Looking back it was the best decision I have ever made. Seeing my wife
enjoy life again is fantastic. No more dialysis! We can travel and now do all
the normal things married couples do.

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