ORGAN DONATION

One of the best gifts to give this Christmas

Through organ transplantation, Amy Camilleri has been given the chance to have two children, raise them and wake up every day. Like many others who have had kidney transplants or any other form of organ transplant, she highlights the importance of those who apply to be donors. “Applying to be a donor is like making a wish to help someone who truly needs it and to continue giving after you pass on.”

She explains that there are also many living donors, two of whom are her mother and sister, who both donated a kidney to Amy. She describes her life as a ‘colourful one’, now with four kidneys (her own still at the back, and her mother’s and sister’s placed in the lower abdomen in the front) and says she finds every day a blessing and is grateful to share her story of going through the struggles of organ transplant which so many go through.

In 2001, shortly after she was married, Amy was taken to hospital due to complications with her pregnancy. After she lost her child, and having a number of tests carried out, the results showed that Amy was going through renal failure. She explained how renal failure comes in different stages, which meant that, at the beginning, she did not need dialysis – which is a means of artificial filtering of the kidneys. The dialysis process is long and tiring, and takes four hours, three times a week. “I was lucky in that the first time I was only on dialysis for two months, as my mother was an ideal candidate and the operation took place in March 2002.”

Two years later, and after regular tests and medication, Amy gave birth to her son in 2005. She explained that, although the doctors had given her the go-ahead to have children, she always had a sense of anxiety and fear that something might go wrong with the pregnancy due to her suppressant pills, which suppress her immune system so that it does not identify the new kidney as a foreign threat.

Life after a kidney transplant is not easy. Amy said that although it is not the ultimate cure, it is the best solution, regardless of all difficulties afterwards. “I had to give up my job as an Learning Support Assistant, because having a weak immune system means working with children is difficult. Because of the medication, at times I feel weak and I also have osteoporosis as a result.”

Despite the fear of having another child and the effects on her body, Amy gave birth to her second child in 2011. She explained that her second pregnancy was much harder and that she became anaemic, meaning she had to visit hospital regularly for blood transfusions. “In total, I received over 18 units of blood, and my daughter was born healthy but premature.”

Although Amy’s body had immediately accepted her mother’s kidney in 2002, in 2014 her body rejected the foreign organ. She explained that there are many reasons for a late rejection. “It could have been my two pregnancies,” she said, “or that I had too many blood transfusions, or a weak immunity system. I am lucky compared to others whose body rejects the new organ just a week after the transplant but it was still a difficult situation and I had to go straight on to the dialysis machine.”

She said that this time around it was much harder to balance life, motherhood and going to hospital for dialysis treatment. ‘For two years I was on different types of dialysis treatments. I used to go to hospital in the evening and would not get home until after 1am. It was a difficult period that caused a lot of stress and psychological trauma, which affected me and my family.” Her son, who at the time was only 11 years old, would stay up and wait for Amy to come up. She was grateful for friends and relatives who would help by taking her children to school when she was too tired after treatment.

“You strive to survive. I fought so hard to save my mother’s kidney. I had spent a month in hospital and taken numerous types of medication but, unfortunately, nothing worked.’ She explained that, apart from the physical distress to her body by experiencing kidney failure twice, she also faced psychological trauma. “I felt that, apart from my body rejecting my mother’s kidney, I was failing my mother. I also feel guilty for making not only my mother go through my own difficulties, but my sister who, at 25. donated a kidney to me. It’s a lot to go through, especially when you feel that you are losing your independence.”

In August 2016, Amy had her second kidney transplant, this time from one of her sisters, who like their mother was a good donor for her. She said that every time she speaks about organ donations, she thanks her mother and sister, in that with her mother’s kidney she was able to have two children and with her sister’s kidney she is able to have the chance to raise them.

Currently Amy is a committee member of Transplant Support Group Malta which, alongside the coordinator of the blood donation unit team, has visited a number of secondary schools to speak to fifth-formers about the

I had to give up my job as an Learning Support Assistant, because having a weak immune system means working with children is difficult. Because of the medication, at times I feel weak and I also have osteoporosis as a result

steps needed to become an organ donor and why they should consider applying. “We want to show students that it is their choice if they wish to apply to be an organ donor, and so far we have had very good feedback from the talks we have given.”

She said that some students are doubtful about the whole idea, and that is when Amy and the other volunteers explain the steps that are taken before a body is declared dead and so can be used for transplants. She said that, hopefully, the school visits will carry on because there is not enough awareness about organ donation or how many people are actually on a waiting list for a transplant.

This year there are currently 14,216 people registered as organ donors, which is approximately three per cent of the population. ( http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2018-09-30/local-news/Onlythree-per-cent-of-Malteseregistered-as-organ-donors-6736197 062). One donor can save the life of several people and improve the quality of life of many more. Amy ended the interview on a note of appreciation. She said that there are many people like her who are grateful to have a second chance of life and to be able to enjoy the little things in life that, without organ donors, would not be possible.

Amy Camilleri