I was diagnosed in 2015 with chronic kidney disease, IGA neuropathy. I spent one year on PD dialysis and was very fortunate to receive a kidney donor from the waiting list just after a year. 

 

I had an amazing 7.5 years during which time, with the help of kidney transplant and vascular surgeon David Kingsmore, we set-up Return To Life charity. Our charity has been very well received both in terms of fundraising and helping support patients and their families. We have managed to obtain funding and provided many patients with indoor exercise bikes, keeping kidney patients' cardio vascular systems going, since this is so important for patients' futures. 

 

In 2019 I was asked to join Scottish Kidney Federation as a volunteer and I've met amazing fellow renal patients since joining. I look forward to continuing to build this charity with amazing fellow patients and the other members of the SKF committee.  

 

Sadly my first kidney transplant failed after 7.5 years and I returned to dialysis (on Haemo in centre for five hours, three times a week for 14 months) before, amazingly, on 8th April 2024, I received a second kidney transplant whilst on the waiting list. 

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I'm living life again, machine-free, thanks to my donor and their family.

 

All going well, my plan is to return to competitive cycling and support as many renal patients as possible.