Page 44 - More than a match

More Than a Match

donate. Another appointment was booked for eight weeks’ time;
hopefully, by then there would be a significant change. During

this time, I completely avoided salt as it is linked to high blood
pressure, I drank fresh beetroot juice with ginger as it has been
known to reduce it, I was still losing weight and exercising, and,
in fact, I had a complete lifestyle change. Up until the donor
assessment I was not aware my blood pressure was so high and it
was quite scary to think what might have happened if I had not
offered to donate.
After eight weeks, I returned to the hospital, but this time I was
told by my consultant because my blood pressure had not come

down to the recommended level for donating and was constantly
fluctuating around the139/92 level it was advisable for me not to
be a donor as it would put my health at serious risk. I cried when
I was told this; I could not believe it was happening again. My
sister had been ruled out because of her blood pressure and the
traces of blood in her urine. My family was very upset as this was
another blow for my uncle. My consultant’s explanation for mine

and my sister’s high blood pressure was that it could be genetic;
and is very common in African, Asian and Caribbean families.
Unfortunately, I would have to be on tablets long term to stabilize
it. But she also said that my uncle could have inadvertently saved
my life. High blood pressure is known as a silent killer and if I had
not come forward, it might have gone undetected until it became
life-threatening or even caused death. Naturally, we were upset
that my uncle would not have his transplant yet, but to know that
if I had not come forward I might not have reached 30 made us all

very grateful for the donor process.

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