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Mark BradleyBriton who received kidney - first from mother, then from daughter
Country:
 Great Britain |
Content:
- First Kidney Transplant: A Mother's Love
- Second Kidney Transplant: A Daughter's Gift
- A Family of Donors
- The Surgical Journey
- The Double Kidney Recipient
- Recovery and Gratitude
- The Importance of Organ Donation
A Father's Double Blessing: Receiving Kidneys from Mother and Daughter
Mark Bradley, a 54-year-old resident of Carnforth, Lancashire, has undergone two miraculous kidney transplants, both from members of his family.
First Kidney Transplant: A Mother's Love
In 1992, when Mark was 30 years old, his kidneys failed. After four months on dialysis, his mother, Evelyn, now 77, donated one of her kidneys to save his life.
Second Kidney Transplant: A Daughter's Gift
Around five years ago, the transplanted kidney began to deteriorate, and in 2015, it failed completely. Mark's family contacted the national donor register in search of a suitable match. To their astonishment, Mark's 31-year-old daughter, Georgia, emerged as an ideal candidate.
A Family of Donors
"I'm so lucky. I've been doubly lucky," said Mark. "It's not very often you get a match in your family, so to get two matches is just phenomenal." "It's like lightning striking twice in the same place. I can't believe how fortunate I am."
"It's a strange thing to think that my Georgia and my mum have been the perfect matches for me." "There are just no words that can express the gratitude I have for my daughter. It's almost surreal. It's happened again!"
The Surgical Journey
In June 2015, Georgia underwent the necessary tissue tests, along with her brother, Lewis, and Mark's wife, Dawn. Mark was also placed on the national donor register in case none of his relatives were a suitable match.
Fortunately, Georgia's tissue was an ideal fit. The transplant surgery was scheduled for early September.
The Double Kidney Recipient
The procedure to remove Georgia's left kidney took three hours. Mark received his fourth kidney during a two-hour surgery. He now has a total of four kidneys in his body. The one donated by his mother remains on the right side, while the new kidney is located on the left. Mark's own two kidneys are still in place.
The new kidney functions in the lower part of the recipient's abdomen, connected to blood vessels and the bladder. The doctors decided not to remove Mark's old kidneys, as the procedure would have been too complex. They will only be removed if they become badly damaged or infected.
Recovery and Gratitude
Georgia's surgery was performed using keyhole technology, leaving her with minimal scarring, unlike her grandmother. Mark spent the first two days after the transplant in isolation, while his daughter was able to return home after just three days.
Only after the surgery, when the headaches and nausea subsided, did Mark realize how poorly he had been feeling.
"I was excited but nervous at the same time," said Georgia. "When I saw how it's given Dad a new lease of life, it made it all worthwhile." "It's a strange one to get your head around, that a part of me is now in my dad and is helping him along the way."
"It's mixed emotions. I'm happy that Dad's getting better, but I've got to think that, in the long run, it's going to be a bit harder on me because my one kidney is doing the work of two."
Georgia added: "It's just nice to see him getting better. When we first went to the hospital for the testing, I saw how unwell people were there. I didn't want my dad to end up like that."
"The doctors said they were going to make a hole big enough for someone to put their hand in and get my kidney out. The first thing I did when I was wheeled into the operating theater was look to see how big the surgeon's hand was!"
The Importance of Organ Donation
Without a new kidney, Mark would have had to return to dialysis and wait on the NHS transplant list for potentially up to four years. Bradley will continue to visit the hospital twice a week for the foreseeable future to ensure that the kidney, which is expected to last for 20 years, is functioning properly. He will also need to take anti-rejection medication to prevent his immune system from attacking the new organ.
His daughter hopes to be back at work within the next few weeks. Ideally, a kidney transplant should be carried out when tests show that the damage to your own kidneys is so advanced that you will need dialysis within the next six months. However, due to the shortage of available kidneys, it is unlikely that you will receive an organ during this time unless a family member or friend with a compatible tissue type is prepared to donate.
Most people with kidney failure need to have dialysis while they wait for a suitable donor kidney to become available. The average waiting time for a kidney transplant is between two and three years, but it can be shorter or, in some cases, much longer.
