Transplant was the best present ever
Operation let dad see his family grow up
A West Lothian man has told how he was given the chance to see his children grow up thanks to a life-saving kidney transplant.
Ross Young (48), from East Calder, said the operation 11 years ago transformed his life – but wouldn’t have been possible without his donor and their family.
After suffering from what he believed to be a bad case of gastroenteritis in 2003, leading to him losing three stone in three weeks, Ross underwent a series of tests, resulting in his eventual diagnosis with Polycystic Kidney Disease in September 2004.
Ross was put on medication, and visited hospital every six months for checkups.
In the years that followed, his kidney function slowly deteriorated resulting him being listed for transplant in March 2010.
Since his initial diagnosis, Ross had become a father for the second time and discovered that both sons, now 13 and 16, have the same hereditary condition.
In November 2010, after only 10 weeks on dialysis, he got the call that a match had been found.
He is encouraging people to share their organ and tissue donation decision following the recent Organ and Tissue Donation Week.
Speaking about receiving that life-changing call, Ross said: “I’d adapted quite well to life on dialysis, and was trying to just get on with it, not knowing how long the call would take to come. I wouldn’t say it was easy, but I knew it was keeping me well.
“I hadn’t really had any issues until the phone rang one night at 11.30pm, with the news that a kidney had been found for me.
“I was a complete mess, and was so excited to get to the hospital I couldn’t disconnect the machine properly, causing the solution to go everywhere!
“The transplant took place in November 2010, nine days before my 37th birthday, and it was truly the best birthday and Christmas present I’ve ever had.”
Less than a year after his transplant, Ross went on to win a gold medal in lawn bowling at the British Transplant Games.
This earned him a place at the World Transplant Games in Durban in 2013, where he won the world title.
Speaking about the titles, Ross continued: “Winning the titles was a massive bonus, but the fact I’ve got a quality of life back is what matters to me most.
“I wanted to compete at the Transplant Games to show people that your life doesn’t stop when you get a transplant.
“The last 10 years have been tremendous for me.”
Talking about the law change to an opt out system from 26 March 2021, Ross added: “I have always felt strongly about the law changing to an opt out system, and I even approached the Scottish Parliament to raise it in 2013, which is when I learnt the wheels were already in motion for the Bill.
“I am really pleased to see the law finally coming into action. It’s the simplest way to make a difference while making sure everyone knows they’ve got a choice.
“If you don’t want to be a donor you just have to opt out.
“Knowing that both my sons have the same condition as me, I’m grateful for developments like the law changing before either of them finds themselves in the position I did.”