My Experience Of Being A Kidney Donor
Nearly nine years after donating a kidney to my brother Joel, I’ve finally put together all of my thoughts and experiences. You can read all about it on the website, and it is available as a paperback book you can buy online “The Wee, The Wound And The Worries: My Experience Of Being A Kidney Donor” . The book is also be available as a free eBook.
I hope that this honest and sometimes challenging story will help other people on their journey; whether they have donated, are in the process of donating, are trying to decide whether to take the first step, or just want to know what it's all about.
In my book I guide readers through the decision to be tested as a donor, the pre-surgery tests, the surgery itself, my different attempts to manage pain after the operation, the common maladies I suffered afterwards (which I wished someone had warned me about), the emotional impact of the donation and my long term fitness.
I also talk about accepting the failure of the kidney, and handling the episodes of rejection (or suspected rejection) both straight after the transplant and in the years afterwards.
You can also read a press release about the book which looks at some of the more challenging issues around kidney and other organ donation.
Reviews of excerpts included in the book
“Thank you so so much for your kind words and advise, it has really given me so much to think about and to be grateful for.
Thank you once again for taking the time to respond to my email, even though I don't know you, you have given more invaluable advise than anyone I know
:-)” Kerri
“I just wanted to Thank you for your article (Top Tips)! I will be donating my kidney to my brother and I really appreciated the info and humor of your article! It made me laugh!” Sarah
Joel and me on holiday in Menorca, Spain, a long time before the op on the cover of my new book