My Experience with Kidney Transplant

At the age of thirty (August 2002), I learned that I had a form of kidney disease called IgA Nephropathy. Ironically, I learned of my condition when I failed a medical exam requesting additional life insurance. While I felt fine, I had a serious condition that caused End Stage Renal Disease in less than three years.

I am extremely fortunate that my father saved my life by donating me one of his kidneys. I live a healthy, normal life through his generosity and the excellent University of Michigan Kidney Transplant Team. I am excited to post my experience to provide awareness and advocacy for kidney organ donation.

What does the kidney do?

The kidney is an important organ that removes wastes and fluids from your body. In addition, kidneys perform the following important jobs:
- Regulate your body water and other chemicals in your blood such as sodium, potassium, phosphorus and calcium
- Remove drugs and toxins introduced into your body
- Release hormones into your blood to help your body:
--regulate blood pressure
--make red blood cells
--promote strong bones

Kidney Disease Facts:
- 1 out of 9 Americans has a chronic form of kidney disease (~ 20 million Americans) with another 20 million more that have increased risk for failure (National Kidney Foundation).
- Nearly half of people with an advanced form of kidney disease do not know they have weak or failing kidneys (American Journal of Kidney Diseases).
- Diabetes is the number one cause of kidney failure (Michigan Kidney Research).
- In my case IgA Nephropathy (the dying of filters within the kidneys) attacked my kidneys causing a loss of function at 2-4% rate (per month) in record time (see the following site for more details: http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/iganephropathy/index.htm)
- The waiting list for receiving a kidney transplant can be in excess of five years (closer to six with my blood type). To be listed (start the waiting process), one must have their kidneys perform under 20% of their function (most people start to feel pretty ill at this point and begin dialysis shortly thereafter).

The Treatment and Transplantation Process:

There are several items that one should investigate when having any kidney issues. I have attached links to sites that allow patients, family members, donors, and those interested to research more details. One particular aspect is the process of coping with a medical issue. The Kidney School (an interactive 10 minute web site: http://www.kidneyschool.org/) helps people understand more about the kidney process. Learning is one of the best ways to help come to terms and understand the process.

In my case, I was fortunate to receive a kidney transplant which allows one to live the most normal and easiest with kidney disease. By researching living donor candidates (a simple process of blood type (tissue) matching, healthy lifestyle, and healthy kidneys) – I was able to have a new working kidney introduced into my system. The kidney is placed in your abdomen (belt line) via ~ 6 inch incision and connected via simple plumbing connections it begins taking over kidney functions (the existing kidneys just start shrinking to the size of walnuts and are left intact). Typical recovery for the recipient is 4 days in the hospital and 2-3 months at-home recovery. The donor is in the hospital 1-2 days (my father was released the next day) and has about a 6 week recovery (he was playing golf and tennis in less than 8 weeks).

The Results:

Again, I can’t tell someone how lucky I am to be able to live a life with my new kidney. Leading up to being transplanted, I experienced several tough and typical issues including: loss of thirty pounds – 150 vs. 180 on a 6’1 frame, total lack of desire to eat (the build up of toxins in your body prevents any appetite), extreme fatigue (sleeping from Friday night until Monday), and normal focus (harder to think with the build up of waste in the blood). After the procedure, my new kidney started working immediately (recovery room) and I felt an overall haze being lifted. I will be on anti-rejection medication for the rest of my life – but it is really a simple process of taking medication twice per day, exercise, and eating healthy. Without my kidney – I would have been on dialysis which is a much more difficult and limiting process. Today – there is almost nothing I can not do – and am thankful to have the opportunity to continue on with the rest of my life goals.

I encourage everyone to think about the ability to give the 'gift of life’ by becoming an organ and tissue donor (see http://www.donatelife.net/). By having more donors, people can live a great life and enjoy things that are commonly taken for granted.

Please help!

Scott Bennett