Woman’s Kidney Transplant Journey Highlights Importance of Awareness

A woman from Paisley, Scotland, is urging people to take better care of their kidneys after receiving a life-saving transplant from a living donor. Lois Denham, 51, was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease (PKD) at the age of seven. This genetic disorder can be fatal if left unmanaged.

The Importance of Early Diagnosis

Lois attended regular check-ups and testing for years, but a negative experience with a nurse in her mid-2

20s caused her to neglect her appointments for several years. “At one point, I went to the renal clinic for a routine check-up, and the nurse who weighed me said ‘if you keep putting on weight, your kidneys aren’t going to last you’. And it broke my heart – rather than taking it as a warning, it stopped me going to the clinic for quite a few years,” she explained.

Unfortunately, Lois’ condition continued to deteriorate, and she didn’t realize the severity of the situation until her kidney function plummeted to 10%. By that point, dialysis was no longer an option.

A Lifesaving Gift of Friendship

Fortunately, a friend from Lois’ church, Josh Hall, stepped up and donated one of his kidneys to save her life in 2023.

“It was torture, seeing the disappointment and the uncertainty you [Lois] were going through. I couldn’t bear the thought that a dear friend was suffering, and I could end that suffering

Knowing that you’ve had such an impact on someone’s life, changing somebody’s life and in effect saved their life – you can’t beat that,” Josh said.

Lois expressed her immense gratitude for Josh’s generosity. “My key word throughout this process has been gratitude for what he’s done. And why he would do it. I’ll never really understand why,” she said.

Raising Awareness About Kidney Health

Lois’ story highlights a concerning lack of awareness surrounding chronic kidney disease (CKD). Data released by Kidney Care UK reveals that a significant portion of the Scottish population are unaware of the early signs of CKD.

Fiona Loud, director of policy at Kidney Care UK, emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis: “Delay in the diagnosis of moderate to advanced CKD by just one-year results in a 63% higher likelihood of kidney failure requiring costly and burdensome treatment to stay alive, such as dialysis or a transplant. This also has a significant effect on people’s mental health and on their ability to work.

The charity urges people to take their five-minute online Kidney Health Checker to understand their level of risk. It’s crucial to remember that kidney disease can develop gradually without noticeable symptoms, making early detection all the more important.

We urge you to learn more about your kidney health and take steps to protect your kidneys. Don’t wait for symptoms to appear. Visit the Kidney Care UK website to find out more about kidney health and the signs and symptoms of CKD.