“I’ve always had ‘kidney problems’, I remember my mum telling me that I was in hospital for my first birthday and I’ve had a scar across my tummy since birth. Childhood memories are full of trips to the Radcliffe Infirmary or Churchill Hospital in Oxford. So many blood tests and being poked and prodded by doctors and my favourite consultant/surgeon, Mr Gough. I was often rolled out as a ‘special case’ for students to peer at.

The first time I recall being really ill was when I was about 10; I was exhausted and didn’t want to move. My sister took me for a walk, to make me feel better - it didn’t work. I’m not sure of timescales but sometime after that I had my second ‘big’ operation to have my ureters transplanted to a healthy part of my kidneys. Apparently, I was one of the first children to undergo such plastic surgery in Oxford in 1977 so it was a major event. I remember my dad, brother and sister going to see Star Wars at the cinema while I was recovering in hospital, with my mum by my side as always - I still don’t like Star Wars!

After that successful operation, hospital visits reduced and daily pills were the only reminder of my kidney problems until my twenties when I started to experience urine infections. Hospital appointments increased again, but it was so normal for me that I was surprised when my new partner showed concern. It came as a huge shock when the consultant mentioned haemodialysis and transplant as the future I was looking forward to.

However my poor little shrunken kidneys soldiered on for another decade, even with quite a lot of abuse, 2004 was when functionality really started to decline; I began to feel dreadful and had periods off work as I was so fatigued. The NHS kicked into action with x-rays, dieticians, more blood tests and EPO injections - which are such a health booster.

By September, haemodialysis was imminent as kidney function fell below 6% and I had my fistula created. A month later, I was starting dialysis at Swindon’s Great Western Hospital. I remember thinking that my life was entering a new chapter, which I wasn’t looking forward to.

I watched a lot of films and read a lot of books during my 3 hour sessions, but it really was a chore every other day, with no time off for good behaviour and no excuses. I remember dialysing on my 40th birthday and feeling quite depressed about it. I was still working and my employer was very kind, letting me work from home when I felt up to it. After a few months on dialysis, I felt a lot better but still easily fatigued. My partner and several family members had blood tests to see if they could donate - unfortunately none were suitable so dialysis and the transplant waiting list were to continue.

The best fortnight of dialysis was when we had a much needed holiday in Tenerife. Dialysing in another country was interesting and the view from the window was significantly better than Swindon had to offer! During those years on dialysis, I made some good dialysis friends and the nurses were (and still are) lovely. BUT 2 months after our fabulous Tenerife holiday I got the call - third time lucky - and the transplant went ahead on 5th April 2008.

My new kidney took a month to wake up, what a terrible time after being so hopeful. I had to go back on dialysis and I was still on the renal diet and taking even more drugs. I felt dreadfully depressed although doctors kept saying it’s not uncommon. Oh, the relief when I finally had a blood test and Dr Harden said I didn’t need dialysis - wow, that was a good day!

So, that was 17 years ago. My new kidney has only ever reached a maximum of 30% function but that’s plenty and I’ve recently started EPO injections again - my kidney is still doing ok.

My life following transplant has been barely impacted; I work full time, I love gardening on our allotment with my partner, and I have a very happy, pretty healthy, life.”