Happy 1st Kidneyversary

This day last year was life changing for me, my Mom, our family and two people that we have never met but will always have an inexplicable link with.

This day last year my Mom got her quality of life back when we got her, her new kidney via the incredible paired exchange scheme.

My brother and I were not a direct match with her, so we were added to the paired exchange list, which we remained on for four years. This is where a relative, friend or partner is fit and able to donate a kidney, but is incompatible with the potential recipient and they are matched with another donor and recipient in a similar situation, so that both people in need of a transplant receive a compatible organ.

Other than my family and friends, being a living kidney donor is what I am most proud of and I'm extremely honoured to be part of this amazing club. The emotions we were feeling this time last year are hard to describe, excitement, hope, fear, motivation, peace, nausea, we felt every emotion going on the 16th January 2018 and the adrenaline was definitely pumping.

The only emotion I can honestly say that was nowhere to be seen was doubt, because I knew in my heart of hearts it was going to be a special day and we were 100% doing the right thing. To be in the fortunate position of being able to help someone you love, there is no feeling like it and I know my Mom would do the same for me in a heartbeat.

Not only that, there is another family out there now free of dialysis. Somebody very special has given my kidney a new home and I hope his Dad who is equally as special knows that he has given his kidney to the most amazingly, fabulous recipient, my Mom, who is looking after 'Kitty' and loves her to bits.

I love a bit of Celeb gossip and reality TV as much as the next person, but in this celeb obsessed word, it's nice to realise that the really interesting people, the people that deserve to be adored, looked up to, inspired by are those people in our hospital wards, people who are battling illness at home, people who have survived and people who tragically didn't, these are the people who have incredible, interesting, real, aspiring stories and wisdom.

Your health truly is your wealth and when that comes into question, how people respond and cope can take my breath away. The bravery, courage, strength and determination I have seen displayed in those I love and also people I don't know from chatting to them at the hospital, these are the people who truly show you what matters and how to live your best life. It's not just the person with the illness who display these qualities, it's also their family and friends, they live it with them.

Not forgetting a big thank you and shout out to our fantastic transplant co-ordinator's, surgeons, anaesthetists, hospital staff and NHS. I'm a huge advocate for the organ donor card and think that anyone who carries one is a true superhero, remember not all superheroes wear capes! If you do one thing this year, if you haven't already, please consider signing up to the NHS Organ Donor Register if you live in the UK or if you're in Ireland email The Irish Kidney Association at [email protected] or freetext DONOR to 50050

It gave me hope reading, hearing and watching stories about transplants, before our operations, so if I can give one person a little bit of hope by reading about our journey, then I'll be happy.

#happykidneyversary #kidneytransplantrecipient #livingkidneydonor #shareyourspare #nhsbloodandtransplant #nhsorgandonor #pairedexchange 

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