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I was a live kidney donor to my mum in March 2011. I have been on the organ donor register since I got my driving license, but the prospect of being a live donor had never occurred to me until my mum got sicker. She has had chronic kidney disease for 12 years and was being managed on a cocktail of pills, but suddenly in 2010 she started to deteriorate.
As a physiotherapist, I knew of the gruelling nature of dialysis and did not want her to have to endure that if at possible. So at her clinic appointment with her renal doctor, I asked what our options were, if we could find out more information about live donation. We were sent to the transplant seminar at the London Renal and Transplant Centre at Hammersmith Hospital. From there and making close connections with the team, our journey began. After a thorough work up from head to toe, it was agreed I could be a live donor. Since the surgery 10 months ago, my mum and I are both doing great. She is full of life again, has more energy and is returning to a full and active life.
One of mine and mum’s aims after the operation, was to help educate and talk through our experience with other potential donors and recipients. That is how we ended up on the other side at the regular transplant seminars, which we ourselves had listened to. The latest seminar was on the 27th January 2012 at the London Renal and Transplant Centre at Hammersmith Hospital. The seminars are run by a team of doctors, surgeons and specialist nurses as well as volunteer families of live donors and recipients. The aim is to inform potential kidney patients of the details of the transplant process. The transplant seminar is a detailed information session, covering things such as research statistics, anatomy of the kidneys, what the surgery involves and what life after transplant can be.
During the seminar, mum and I talk to potential donors and their families at seminars, giving them the perspective of the patient and discuss the transplant process with them. Alongside the transplant team, the Hammersmith Kidney Patients association are also on hand to discuss future conferences (the next one will be on March 21st) and services available to kidney patients.
Now a trustee of LLTGL, I also have the chance to give the audiences the message about the importance of joining the organ donor register, especially to black and minority groups. The number of people being involved in live organ donation (usually kidneys) is on the increase, but this is happening as there are not enough people signed on to the organ donor register. The skills that I have picked up from the speakers project, have helped immensely with being able to promote organ donation. Using the tips of bringing in statistics, using our personal story and being concise has been so helpful.
If you’d like more information on these seminars please click here. Although there is not a specific website about the transplant seminars, telephoning the outpatient clinic number will point you in the right direction.
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