Ross-shire men saved by living kidney transplant celebrate practice anniversary
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TWO Ross-shire men were given a second chance in life by an organ transplantation practice which was first performed 60 years ago.
Black Isle resident Martin Ross (48) and Peter Bartlett (58) from Lochcarron, who both received a living kidney transplantation, were thankful to their wives' "amazing sacrifice" and to the NHS for saving their lives.
Living kidney transplantation, which has shown to offer better outcomes for patients needing transplant due to kidney failure, was first performed on twins at Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh in 1960 and the 60th anniversary of the practice was celebrated on October 30.
Mr Bartlett, who was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease (PKD) when he was only 23 and saw his kidney function dropping at as low as 8 per cent at the age of 57, said: "The transplant has changed me completely. I feel great now – it’s as if I’ve got a whole new set of batteries energising me. I keep getting told how well I look, which has made me realise how dreadful I really must have looked before!
He received a living kidney transplant as a result of his wife Wendy donating her kidney into the UK Living Kidney Sharing Scheme; although she was not compatible with Mr Bartlett, they were matched with another couple, with the transplant taking place in 2018.
After his successful outcome, Mr Bartlett also mentors others dealing with the effects of the disease as a PKD Charity UK volunteer.
He said: “I know just how hard the physical and mental challenges are so I hope that talking to someone who really understands what they’re going through and has experienced everything PKD, dialysis and transplant entails first-hand really helps and makes a difference.
“So many people – including Wendy and my donor, of course, as well as all the medical and nursing staff who’ve looked after me – were responsible for me being able to have my transplant. I’ll never be able to thank them enough and feel I owe it to them to make the most of this wonderful opportunity I’ve been given. I’ve been gifted a second chance at life and want to grab it with both hands.”
Johan Ross (47) began tests to see if she could donate a kidney when her husband's conditions deteriorated in 2017, and resulted as the closest match.
Mr Ross, who had been struggling with kidney failure since 2009, said: "I was never able to start the conversation about living donation with any of my family because I just couldn’t bring myself to ask something like that of them.
“It’s something you never expect to have to thank your wife for doing and I don’t really know how to put it into words. It’s such an amazing sacrifice to make. When I see how completely back to normal she is and then look at myself and how well things are going it makes me hope and pray that the level of live transplants in Scotland increases so that others like me also get a second chance."
Mrs Ross added: “It was an amazing feeling knowing I’d be able to help my husband in such a huge way. Of course, we were both nervous before it, as you would be for any operation, but there was a great sense of anticipation knowing improvement for him was just around the corner, all being well.
“It was quite emotional seeing Martin the night before our operations. We were just looking at each other thinking ‘This is it, it’s finally happening’. I remember saying to him, ‘My kidney will be your kidney tomorrow’.”
Since a living kidney transplant was first performed, over 1,500 people in Scotland have helped others by donating a kidney.
A kidney from a living donor generally offers the best outcomes for patients living with kidney failure who need a transplant, and those on the waiting list are encouraged to consider living donation as an option for this reason.
A healthy person can live a completely normal life with one working kidney, and people can donate to a loved one in need or can donate altruistically to a stranger on the waiting list who is a match.
Minister for Public Health Joe FitzPatrick said: “Today is a significant milestone in the history of transplantation. Living kidney donation has come a long way from that first surgery in October 1960, with 100 such operations currently performed in Scotland each year with a very high success rate.
“The programme will remain an important part of increasing donation and transplantation rates when opt out legislation is introduced next March.
“The generosity of donors, coupled with the care and dedication of those in the NHS who facilitate each stage of the process, has resulted in many lives being saved and transformed and I’d like to extend my sincere thanks to everyone involved.”
To find out more about living donation, visit livingdonationscotland.org.
