Brother’s life-changing donation
Finding a compatible person willing to donate an organ is a significant hurdle for those with life-threatening kidney disease, but for Waimate man Kelvin Sadler there was another hurdle which threatened his transplant.
With his kidney function rapidly declining, Sadler said a decision was made to go ahead with the transplant in 2021, but he had a major problem – his donor was unable to get into New Zealand from Australia due to Covid-19 border controls.
Sadler, a stock agent for PGG Wrightson, was diagnosed with Immunoglobulin A Nephropathy (Berger’s disease) 25 years ago. The diagnosis meant the health of his kidney’s was in decline.
Seven years ago, with his kidney function dropping from 23% to 16%, doctors told him he would need a transplant within 12 months – should his condition continue to deteriorate at the same rate.
That was when he went to his younger brother, Allan Sadler, telling him of the diagnosis and asking if he would consider becoming a donor.
Sadler, who has been based in Australia for more than 20 years, agreed.
But when the time came to go ahead with the surgery, the brothers found themselves separated by a bit more than the Tasman Sea.
‘‘Last year [2021] they pushed the go button for surgery but because of Covid, we couldn’t get Allan into the country, even with a medical exemption,’’ Sadler said.
Kelvin Sadler said he and his wife Leanne started looking for other options in New Zealand and also considered dialysis. One of those options was to test Leanne, but unfortunately she was not a match.
When a good friend of the couple heard of their troubles, she offered a kidney and began her testing, he said. She was close to completing that process when the border reopening announcement came.
With Allan back on board and able to enter the country, Sadler then pushed for the surgery to go ahead as soon as possible. Sadler and Allan were granted the May 23 date for surgery, with just seven weeks to prepare.
‘‘It was almost just as well we didn’t have much warning because we weren’t able to over analyse it and we just went into action mode with all the things we had to prepare. By the time I came to Christchurch I was exhausted,’’ says Kelvin.
Allan and his partner, Kylie went into self-isolation in Australia before travelling to Christchurch, with Kylie working from home for two months to ensure they did not risk catching Covid and having to cancel the surgery. Sadler said the first 18 years after he was diagnosed with his kidney condition, it was ‘‘pretty much everyday life.
‘‘With my kidney function dropping, I was getting more and more tired,’’ he said.
Sadler and his brother were on separate floors in Christchurch Hospital and three days after the surgery, Allan was wheeled in to meet his brother.
‘‘It was amazing,’’ Sadler said. ‘‘I didn’t know what it was like to feel well. And two days after the surgery it [symptoms of Berger’s disease] was all gone. I was a bundle of joy. He [Allan] had changed my life.
‘‘I hope the kidney they’ve left him with is as good as the one I’ve got.’’
Sadler told him and his brother have always been in touch and when Allan was made aware of Sadler’s condition, Allan did not hesitate to say yes to being a donor.
‘‘We didn’t talk about it a lot because I didn’t want to make him feel like he had to do it.’’
They’ve since named their ‘‘new’’ kidney Alvin and enjoy checking in on Alvin daily.
The two families have been spending the post surgery recovery period at Ranui House in Christchurch.
At Ranui House, the couples have their own apartments, where they can do their own laundry and cooking, although they have enjoyed cooking in the communal cooking and lounge space.
The Bone Marrow Cancer Trust owns and runs Ranui House, a home away from home for patients and their families receiving medical treatment at Christchurch hospitals. Patients of any age, and with any medical condition, can receive the accommodation and support the house provides.
‘‘Ranui House has just allowed us to stop because you’re away from all the daily pressures. It’s just been amazing. We’ve literally come up here and stopped and recuperated,’’ Sadler said.‘‘Twelve days post-surgery and I am feeling 100% better.
‘‘We feel so cared for,’’ Leanne said. ‘‘We have felt very nurtured in this environment.’’
The Sadlers expect to stay at Ranui House for another month while Sadler’s monitoring continues.
Having just purchased new bikes, they are looking forward to getting fit and seeing more of Christchurch before heading home.
For Kelvin, it’s the first time in over two years he has been able to exercise. He now can’t wait to be able to say ‘yes’ to his 11-year-old son when he asks him to run around with him.
The trust has also recently begun construction of Ranui Apartments, a 43-unit apartment complex on Selwyn St due to be completed in early 2024.