In the last few months, I have had a Cardiac MRI scan followed by an angiogram, followed by a follow-up Cardiac MRI scan. Today, I had an appointment with the consultant cardiologist who was looking after them all. He told me that there had been some thickening in the walls of the heart, but that he was not worried and I did not need any further tests. He also said that he would write to my consultant nephrologist to confirm that as far as cardiology was concerned, I was fit for transplant. So, hopefully, that is all that we now need to get me back on the list for a kidney transplant.

Why a kidney transplant? Aren’t you on dialysis?

Yes, I receive thrice-weekly life-saving dialysis every week. This treatment takes three afternoons each week. With the travel to and from the clinic, dialysis takes up most of those three days. Dialysis is keeping me alive, but I am restricted to being close to my dialysis unit so that I can get to it each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. If I were to get a transplant, it would offer more freedom and athe ability to live a longer, healthier, more normal life. A transplant would give me much more time to do the fun things I enjoy the most, spending time with friends and family.

The challenge of finding a kidney: living donors offer a lifesaving alternative

Finding a kidney for transplant is not easy. Just ask the 2,500 people on the waiting list in Ireland, waiting for a deceased donor kidney like me. Time is definitely not on our side. Some people wait for years; many people die while waiting. It is often said that the average wait time is five years or more for a kidney from a deceased donor. However, there is another option: receiving a donor from a living donor.

A living donor’s kidney is likely to last much longer and have better function than one from a deceased donor.

Some facts about kidney donation

I’m sure you don’t know much about living donation. I know I knew very little about it until my kidneys failed. It is totally understandable that some people are afraid about having surgery to remove a kidney, and what it would mean for them to live with only one. So, here is some simple information about kidney donation:

• Only one kidney is needed per person to live a healthy, long life.
• Donor surgery may be done laparoscopically, that is through tiny incisions.
• Recuperation after donation is usually quite quick, generally a couple of weeks.

Some benefits of living donation

There are some advantages of having a living donation. These include:

• The transplant can be planned in advance.
• The transplant can occur earlier, so the recipient may spend less time on dialysis or even avoid dialysis altogether.
• The donated kidney spends less time in storage.
• Donor-recipient tissue-matching can be better, which might mean a lower chance of the kidney being rejected by the recipient’s body.
• Long-term results are better for the recipient when compared with a deceased donor kidney. (Beaumont.ie)

Learn more about living donation: resources by region

If you want to find out more about living donation for kidney transplant, I recommend reading the information provided by local health bodies:

Altruistic kidney donation: a life-saving gift in Great Britain and Northern Ireland

In Great Britain and Northern Ireland, it is possible to donate a kidney altruistically, without knowing a patient who needs a kidney. This is not possible in the Republic of Ireland, where there needs to be a longstanding emotional relationship with the recipient. Do think about kidney donation though, I know that it would make a huge difference to my life, and even if you don’t match me, you could make a difference to someone else. Any friend of mine who wants to see if they are suitable to donate to me, please contact me.