A FORMER bank worker saved by his father’s kidney has said: “I’ll never be able to repay my dad for what he did.”
Alastair Rennie was rushed to hospital in February 2015 after visiting his GP with exhaustion, nausea and daily nosebleeds. Medics said his kidneys had shut down and he was placed on the transplant list.
However, his wait for a suitable donor ended when his father David volunteered to help.
Now Alastair, 29, has spoken about his family’s experience as he works towards competing in this year’s British Transplant Games, which will be held in North Lanarkshire in July.
He said: “My kidneys had effectively not been working for around five months and the doctors had no idea how I was still going.
“When my parents arrived at the hospital I had machines attached to my chest, a catheter fitted, a line inserted in my leg and equipment to help me breathe. I was told by a kidney specialist that my results were the worst he’d ever seen.
“When I was told I needed a transplant it was the strangest thing. It took forever for someone to say something. At that point me and my family broke down.”
Alastair, who was treated at Monklands hospital, received offers from would-be donors including his brother, girlfriend and friends.
After his dad was chosen, it took more than one year to prepare the two for surgery. Alastair, from Cumbernauld, said: “On the day of the surgery my main concern was for my dad. When he went down to theatre it was quite overwhelming.
“I wanted to know that he was Ok before my operation went ahead and thankfully I was able to see him in recovery before my transplant.”
He continued: “There are days where what happened to me hits home. The whole experience has certainly brought us closer as a family. I’ll never be able to repay my dad for what he did. It’s the most amazing thing and I’m extremely proud of him.”
Jen Lumsdaine, Living Transplant co-ordinator said: “The average wait for a kidney from a deceased donor is around three years, but Alastair’s life was transformed in around seventeen months. Almost half of all kidney transplants now come from living donors, which is fantastic because living donations lead to better results for patients.”
For more, visit www.livingdonationscotland.org
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