A kidney transplant saved my life
Warning: This post and the series I will publish over the coming days, are a tough read and talk about major but vital surgery. So if you are not good with this sort of thing, I've warned you!
I do encourage you to read it though because all came good in the end and I wish to help people facing the same challenge in their lives. Today is a special day, as we raise awareness for kidney health and diseases that can be treated or better understood at best.
In September 2008 I was the recipient of a live kidney transplant, courtesy of my own Dad. It was a daunting day but we'd been well prepared. It was touch and go in the recovery stages but things got progressively better over the days that followed. Once I was discharged from St George's in London and allowed home, I took 3 months off work to recover. Every day I would take a walk of 15 minutes, increasing by 15 each day.
I wrote about it at the time, I've kept the text files safe on Github ever since and I am going to publish them after a bit of a tidy up, some proof reading etc. There is perhaps even enough material to publish a paperback book.
First of all back to World Kidney Day...
World Kidney Day
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is common and harmful: 1 out of 10 adult people worldwide have it, and if left untreated it can be deadly. While early detection allows for disease care and management to help prevent morbidity and mortality, and improve cost effectiveness and sustainability, kidney disease related mortality continues to increase yearly and is projected to be the 5th leading cause of death by 2040. A persistent and ongoing CKD knowledge gap exists, one that is demonstrable at all levels of healthcare.
I strongly feel that kidney disease such as I've had to deal with in my life is overlooked by many. To think that it could be the 5th leading cause of death by 2040 is a clear sign that more work needs to be done. Awareness needs to increase. So I urge you my fellow Hivian to reblog and to upvote this post. Please also have a read over at https://www.worldkidneyday.org/facts/chronic-kidney-disease/ the main points they make are:
- Early chronic kidney disease has no signs or symptoms. I can vouch for this!
- CKD is something you can, have to live with and manage
- It can be treated
- Can be monitored through blood and urine tests
- Disease can, it did for me, lead to kidney failure
Though I have to say the treatment I received in the 2000's was second to none. I was well cared for, well informed all the way through.
Find out more
https://www.worldkidneyday.org/2022-campaign/
10th March 2022 - schedule it for then
My personal diary
I wrote a diary at the time, especially whilst I was in hospital. I can remember using an early smart phone from my hospital bed. It was a fiddle typing up my notes using those combo keys, 1 tap for 1 letter, 2 taps for the next etc. Sounds bonkers but I had to pass the time, I had to fight my way through it all.