Saving a life can be greatest gift of all
Marsha goes on run after donating her kidney
A Bannockburn organ donor has been taking part in the British Transplant Games less than a year after donating one of her kidneys to a complete stranger.
Good Samaritan Marsha Eastwood (67) became an altruistic kidney donor last year, a decade after watching a TV programme on the subject led her to start considering the idea.
And on Saturday she and hundreds of other participants took part in the Donor Run held at Strathclyde Country Park.
“The atmosphere and support was tremendous,” said Marsha. “Most people had arrived by coach from all over Great Britain to join in the full four days of events.”
On Sunday retired administrator Marsha attended the track and field events at Wishaw Sports Centre, manning a stall for the Give A Kidney organisation which raises awareness of being a living organ donor.
“A successful transplant from a living kidney donor can be the best possible treatment for someone with kidney failure,” said Marsha, “especially if it is scheduled before the recipient needs to start dialysis.
“In general, people who receive a living donor transplant will live longer than those who receive a kidney from a deceased donor. A kidney will never be removed from a living donor until the transplant team are satisfied that the short and long term risks to that person are low. All risks are explained in detail during the assessment held at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.
“Receiving a kidney from a living donor can transform the life of a person waiting for a transplant. There are currently around 5,700 people in the UK on the waiting list for a transplant 300 of these can expect to die this year in need of a kidney. This is completely unecessary when most of us have two healthy kidneys, yet only need one. More and more people are comong forward each year to give this life-changing gift.”
Marsha initially approached her GP in 2014 and through the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh was put in touch with Living Donor Transplant coordinator Sarah Lundie.
While everything initially seemed fine, it became clear Marsha’s weight might be an issue.
Not to be deterred, however, it inspired her to get fitter and lose two stone over six months after which she was invited to attend her first hospital appointment at the transplant clinic.
Appointments followed with three surgeons, a psychiatrist, an independent assessor, X-ray, and scan, all of which Marsha passed.
In October 2016, Marsha gave blood at RIE to be tested as a cross match against a recipient on the kidney donor register and her operation quickly followed.
“After between two and five hours of surgery, the organ is transferred by the safest method of transport and the recipient receives it later that day in their operation somewhere in the UK.”
Marsha spent three days in a high dependency unit before being transferred to the transplant ward then discharged.
She said: “All in all the whole experience took me two years including losing weight. Some people go through the process in six to 12 months depending on their circumstances. Although you have to be over 18, there is otherwise no age limit.
“The health of the person receiving the kidney improves quickly and dramatically, whereas that of the person donating the kidney takes a step back. However, when you weigh up the fact you will make a full recovery in six to eight weeks time and continue to live a normal life with one kidney, it puts it into perspective how insignificant those few weeks of discomfort are in comparison to saving another person’s life.”
Find out more at www.giveakidney. org.