Transplant: The gift of a loving sister

THE love of two sisters has stood the test of time after a kidney transplant between them two decades ago and now they are living life to the fullest.

When Ronell Schmidt, 50, from Plumstead, was a teenager doctors determined she had a kidney disease.

Despite making lifestyle changes and losing weight, her health began deteriorating when she reached 30.

She was in desperate need of a kidney transplant and her sister Vanessa Lombard, now 45 and 25 at the time, immediately offered a kidney. It would set a bond like no other. The sister’s were a 99% match. “I had terrible headaches as a teenager and decided it was time to go for a check-up,” Schmidt said.

“Through blood tests it showed that I had kidney disease. I continued going for my regular check-ups every six months. I started making healthier choices and started looking after my health and lost 20kg just by eating healthier.”

Lombard had no doubts about giving her kidney to her sister.

“I heard my sister speaking with her mother and I told Ronell, ‘If you need one, you can have mine’,” said Lombard.

“It was a no-brainer for me.”

Since Schmidt turned 50 this year, she has been ticking items off her bucket list.

She has begun doing adventurous activities such as zip lining and climbing a mountain.

She takes her health seriously and teaches two classes twice a week at a gym while still working at a school and raising her daughter.

Both sisters are in excellent health. “I have been given the gift of life and have been living life to the fullest,” said Schmidt.

“Going through this life-changing journey it really made our relationship become stronger throughout the years.”

Both sisters have lived their lives to the full and are still doing it.

Lombard said: “It is best. You only live once and have to live your life to the fullest.”

Groote Schuur spokesperson Alaric Jacobs said the sisters had been counselled by staff at the hospital before the surgery took place. “When she (Ronell) turned 30, her health took a major setback.

“Rigorous health testing and counselling was done on Vanessa. She was a match and shared 99.9% the same tissue as her sister. They got the green light from the doctor and the kidney transplant took place at Groote Schuur Hospital on October 12.”

Jacobs said having kidney disease should not mean the end of your life but that you could have a better quality of life if you received a transplant.

“A kidney transplant can treat chronic kidney disease or end-stage renal disease to help you feel better and live longer.

“Compared with dialysis, kidney transplant is associated with, better quality of life and lower risk of death.

“A kidney transplant will lead to a longer, better quality of life for most people who are able to have one.”