The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
‘Perfect match’ kidney couple
When Ma r t i n Ross proposed to wife Johan 20 years ago, he always knew she was the perfect match – but the 48-year-old was stunned when their compatibility ended up saving his life, after she gave him one of her kidneys.
None of his blood relatives were suitable donors and Mr s Ro s s initially kept it a secret that she was being tested, as she never expected to be called upon.
The father of four, who had been suffering renal failure for 10 years, is now back to full health and hailed his wife for the “incredible sacrifice” she made for him.
“It’s no exaggeration to say she’s given me my life back,” he said.
“What she has done for me has altered the whole dynamics of how we live, just to be able to live a normal life.
“I’ve got both health and energ y and a massive weight of uncertainty has been lifted. It’s given me a new start.
“I’m so well now, it’s easy to forget the sacrifice she made and t a ke it for granted.”
The two-and-a-half hour transplant went ahead at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary last August wh e n Mr Ross’s kidney function had plummeted to just 5%.
By that point he was constantly exhausted and unable to think straight as his body struggled to cope with a build-up of toxins.
He faced a life on dialysis and a transplant was his only hope.
The couple, from the Black Isle in Ross-shire, now joke how they truly are a “perfect match”, as they look forward to doing all the things they have been unable to because of his ill health.
According to Kidney Research UK, the chances of a spouse or friend being the “best tissue match” are one in 200.
By sharing their story – 60 years after the first living kidney donation – they hope to encourage more living donors to step up, as many patients do not feel comfortable asking their loved ones for help.
Mrs Ross, 47, said: “I knew he would never ask me – he wouldn’t have asked that of anyone.
“It is a really nice feeling to know I’ve helped get him back to health.
“The bond between us is stronger and we’re closer because of it.
“He says he definitely married the right woman.”