Right kidney for the trail
On a special day, February 8, 2020, I ran my first serious run since donating my left kidney on October 16, 2019 – just 16.5 weeks. At 73 years old, a half marathon trail run (my first Trail Run) on one kidney is a significant achievement. This the Rotorua Ultra Half, one of the more picturesque trail runs in our country, renown for inspiring runs. Special, first because this is the last 22 km of The Miler, a 100-mile run my son would finish 24 hours later. Special too because with me on our 22k was Amanda (my daughter-in-law) and Andrew (her brother). I finished in a satisfactory 177 minutes. Just a little irony I ran my best road marathon nearby, finishing in 178 minutes, 31 years ago. To counter, I managed to finish (a few minutes) ahead of Amanda and Andrew.
I was especially conscious of having only one kidney and the extra need to keep hydrated. With a 9.5 gap between aid stations I chose to carry water – normally unnecessary for me on a half marathon.
Today I’m 13 months post op. A 73-year-old, 71-kg (skinny) male with a long history of Orienteering, including Mountain Marathons (similar to today’s rogaines), a few road marathons and numerous half’s, road cycling including 160 km events and a 100k with 2500m of climb. Multi day tramping (wilderness hiking) and other New Zealand (NZ) native forest activity such as 2.5 – 3.5 hour, exotic pest baiting on lines in rough terrain forest. 3 hours approximates a road half marathon.
Let’s pause and reflect, from whence I have come, to be on the path to donate a kidney.
I began donating blood in 1970, this week was my 440th donation, mainly plasma. Perhaps 20 years ago I registered as an organ donor; our family know the hospital / research gets to take all the useful bits and family get the ashes of the rest. Although I had not considered live donation it was a small step, not a giant leap.
As the recently elected treasurer of an endangered species restoration group, I, on Monday, October 8, 2018, met to discuss account options with Chantelle, “The Good PA.” I’d known Chantelle through a local business group for some eight years. Over that time we built a comfortable, friendly relationship. On that morning it was appropriate to ask about a scar on her neck from recent surgery. She told me of thyroid gland surgery related to poor kidney function, a genetic condition; that she has dialysis several times a week. “But it is part of life,” and she simply gets on and does it, as the other option is not attractive. Words to effect, “If I don’t do dialysis I die!” She then had been on the waitlist for a kidney for six years.
A surprise to me: Chantelle, such a positive, pleasant, go-get person has also to contend with the rigours of regular dialysis.
I got to thinking about this. Considered could I spare a kidney? While the initial idea gelled almost immediately the subsequent SWOT analysis took some weeks to precipitate.
I am good at looking after myself, so well equipped to care if I have just one kidney. At 72, if I’m going to do this I better get going!
So began the process. In January 2019 I wrote to siblings and children. “I’m planning to donate a kidney; are there any family members who may now or in the next 5 to 8 years need a kidney?” Unanimous “No” and only one, the one who does donate blood, questioned how well I had considered donating a kidney.
I chose not to share my plans with Chantelle perceiving it a conflict of interest as our restoration group was in business with her, ‘The Good PA.”
The next step: determining if > 72 year old’s are suitable kidney donors.
I’m confident, if Chantelle accepts it, she will care for the kidney even better than I have. About the time I got the age ok I received information on donating which included the remote chances of matching a non-family recipient. At this point my impression was about 50:50 – later I found the reality is more like 20:80. Do I want to donate a kidney anyway, if not to Chantelle to whomever? By the time I have crossed all the hurdles another match may have appeared. Reading the Live Kidney Donor literature; already preparing me for the three options: Direct, Paired Exchange, Non-Directed. From the outset in October 2018 I had in mind donating to Chantelle. From Feb. as I learnt more about the process my first option was a direct donation to her, second option a paired match donation including Chantelle and very much the third option a non-directed donation. Clearly I would like some confidence that the recipient is going to care for it, with a life-style similar to the kidney’s previous owner!
Sometime about May my clinical nurse specialist (CNS) suggested I may not be a match for Chantelle. “Not a match!” confirmed in June with words I heard as, “Your kidney would be immediately rejected by Chantelle’s body!” I requested that we not share this with Chantelle as I could see no benefit to anyone while Chantelle remained on the kidney wait list. For now Chantelle’s inspiration in my kidney story remains confidential to three in the renal unit and Jill, my wife.
Gutted to be told on June 4 by my renal physician that I could not participate in the paired kidney exchange donor scheme as we had “run out of time”! From July 1, 2019 the scheme pool would include Australia and the Aussies weren’t accepting donors older than 70 – therefore we (New Zealand) would not accept paired donors over 70 either. I felt let down by the system and said so! Renal physician and Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) assured me they only knew within two weeks of telling me.
Knowing my body, so quietly confident, I cleared all the remaining hurdles for non-directed donation in the following four months, including an Aussie flu three weeks pre-op.
It is now the afternoon of October 15, 2019. With Jill (a retired nurse), I’m undergoing my pre-op assessment in Auckland Hospital Outpatients. An opportunity to check the hand size of the surgeon. He will incise a cut large enough to put his hand in to lift my left kidney out. He draws a large purple arrow pointing left on my lower abdomen “in case I forget”; to ensure he takes the correct kidney not the right one. Then gives me the pen with the instruction to retrace the arrow again after my pre-op shower.
Forgive me for thinking the arrow pointed to where he would put his hand in to remove the kidney. Following the op and regaining compos mentis I’m pleasantly surprised to find the 80 mm incision is handsomely central from my navel down.
Post op 2.5 days, I’m out of hospital, staying locally for 10 days, “just in case.” Green script: lots of walking. Not scripted: hills added from day four. The CNS was aghast when I told her Jill and I had been walking up and down Mt Eden. “But hardly a mountain” say those who know it! She would barely consider it on her very best day!
On post op day 7 Jill and I went orienteering (walking pace) in an Auckland city park I know very well. However I forgot there are fences to climb – very gingerly!
Home in time for Labour public holiday weekend with grandchildren. For the following week I was flattened by a Kiwi flu bug. Somewhat worse than recovering from the nephrectomy.
Into my fifth week post op. Returned to Brolates (Pilates for guys), road bike for three gentle 30 k rides, an 8 k track walk including steep section and an organised 6 km Round The Bridges street walk. Also my first short, flat, sidewalk jogs; 4 x 100 m in a 3 km walk including some moderate street hills.
Most special part of this week was the very emotional, news that Chantelle received a donor kidney on Tuesday, November 11. At last I could say, “Chantelle, You are My Inspiration!” “Congratulations on the new kidney!” To receive her email reply, and to realise we can now share our kidney stories. Today we coffeed to celebrate her 1-year kidneyversary.
Our stories are well told by our local newspaper; The Te Awamutu Courier:
https://www.teawamutu.nz/courier/archive/2020/2020-03-12.pdf
Leave a Reply