‘I’ve got my husband back’
Gill Redmond gave the ultimate gift when she donated one of her own kidneys to her husband Mark. Less than a year after surgery, they’re getting on their bikes for a special challenge
When Gill and Mark Redmond cross the finish line on a 66-mile cycle around Loch Ness this April – a great achievement for anyone – theirs will be an especially sweet victory. For less than a year ago, both Gill and Mark were lying in a hospital bed as Gill selflessly donated her kidney to the man she loves. Mark (51) had always been a fit and active man. Working as part of RAF aircrew, in his free time he loved getting on his bike and enjoying the great outdoors. Then in 1995 he was diagnosed with Berger’s syndrome, a kidney disease that over the years saw his kidney function often drop. But it was in October 2015 that Mark’s kidney function suddenly nosedived and he became worryingly poorly as his body was unable to flush out poisonous toxins. “He went from being really fit to lying on the couch for up to 13 hours a day because he had no energy at all,” says Gill (47). The doctors made it clear that Mark needed a new kidney as soon as possible. If not, he’d need to spend the rest of his life on dialysis until eventually his kidney would fatally give up functioning altogether. Siblings are often the best match for organ donation but as Mark is an only child, this wasn’t an option. So Gill stepped forward and asked if her kidney might be suitable. “For me it was a no-brainer as I saw a problem that I could potentially fix. I didn’t even really think about it,” says Gill. Luckily, Gill was the same blood group as Mark, meaning that her kidney could be suitable. “Mark found it a bit of a double-edged sword as