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Johanna (Jenny) and Gabriels Living Organ Transplant Story

Why did I give my son one of my kidneys? Because I had two of them, both healthy and so was I.

He was sick, constantly tired, still keeping his job, working even if he had dialysis 3 times a week 6 hours at a time. I used to look him up at the dialysis ward after school (I attended Claremont school of art) buying him a Coke, chips and Mars Bar - all things forbidden and don't forget the smokes roleys but while on the machine he could have these luxuries. We grew quite close during this time and when the time came I was the first one to put up my hand to donate a kidney. 

Little did I know what was involved as before Gabriel was diagnosed we (our family) did not know much about kidney disease. Library books did not make reading fun so I gave that up, didn't want to know but I would soon enough find out and Gabriel was quite open about it all. My husband and I were often with him on his visit to Charles Gairdner Hospital. After 3 months of blood-checks, bloodtyping, having a 5 litre container constantly with me to urinate in over a weekend. Nice to go to a party!! A weekend stay in hospital for other tests including an angiogram which did not bother me at all although some kind? people had told me how horrible it was getting a needle in your groin. Because of that I kept my eyes closed during the procedure but when I finally opened my eyes to see the monitor and the last bit of the procedure, I was annoyed as I would have liked to have seen the lot. Silly people or rather silly me.

The day of transplant was in April 1991. Gabriel was 21 years old and I was 52. Very fit as I gave up smoking, drinking alcohol, had my daily walks with the dogs through the beautiful bush at Gidgegannup and exercised my friesian stallion every day. When the transplant was about to begin Gab and I said our Good Lucks and till afters. When he was wheeled away and I waited on the trolley to go to theatre he yelled, 'You're not getting it back Mum after I get it I keep it”. He's always been the larrikin/joker of the family.

All our expectations fell because the kidney refused to work and Gabriel had to go back on dialysis. Many tears of frustration and in Gabriel’s case disappointment. More operations but also being the optimist he did not give up telling me "'What do you expect from a second hand kidney?”

After 6 long weeks the miracle happened and the kidney started to work on it's own. Gabs was back in business getting a new job with a future and life was getting back to normal. I was back riding my stallion after 6 weeks and started linedancing/bootscooting and finishing my Diploma in Art and Design. Yes there is life after a living donor transplant.

Sadly this kidney failed after less than 3 years but Gabriel has never been happier in those years. He has had 2 more transplants after which the last one lasted 6 whole years and in that time he kept the same job, did a course at TAFE, started Rhee Tae Kwon Do and got a black belt in 2 years (normally 4) He was an exercise fan and got himself baptised - I think as a way to thank the powers that be. 

Gabriel passed away in May 2003. He did not want any more treatment least of all dialysis and if there was a kidney available he said to give it to somebody else because he had his chances and made good use of it. He was a remarkable kid. This also was shown at his cremation which had to be on a Friday so his friends had a long weekend off.

He did not want flowers but rather donations to the church who put the money into security lights and painting the interior of the church. This was the child I was happy to give my kidney to.

Jenny