- I looked for a kidney on the internet… Oh, really? 😛
- The facebook page A kidney for Judith
- Where can I get information about living kidney donation?
I looked for a kidney on the internet… Oh, really?
Yes, I was at that point 😛 There is no cure for Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) and I was in end-stage renal failure, my original kidneys hardly functioning anymore. The transplant is my only chance of long-term survival.
Unfortunately, there was no one around me who could give me a kidney. Even though I was on the waiting list for a kidney from a deceased person, it takes an average of 2-3 years beforegetting one. With the current timeframe, it would probably have taken 4 years of waiting before it happened. So I decided to ask, to launch this on the internet, because who does not try anything has nothing!
Why was it so pressing?
I was looking for a kidney to live on, but also to be able to start a family. With each passing year, I was getting further and further away from the possibility of having children, given my age and health. My boyfriend and I have been ready to start our family for some time now. Unfortunately, we have to wait a year after the transplant in order to begin our process. Before the transplant, neither the baby nor I would have survived a pregnancy. We had eggs frozen in 2020, and they have been patiently waiting for me to be transplanted for a year. My donor made possible the plan we had put in place.
For all these reasons, I was looking for someone who would be willing to donate one of his kidneys to me.
A kidney donation from a living donor takes between 7 and 13 months. For a cadaveric donor transplant (i.e. someone who dies and has signed their health insurance card), a minimum of two and a half years of waiting is expected. Live kidney donation saves two people: the recipient, as well as the person on the waiting list who will receive a kidney sooner because the recipient is removed from the list.
An organ donation from a living donor also allows for a better longevity of the transplant, compared to an organ from a deceased person.
The facebook page A Kidney for Judith
When I started blogging about Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) and kidney donation, it was as part of my personal search for a kidney given my poor kidney function.
The Facebook page Un rein pour Judith / A kidney for Judith was a place where I gave news of my adventure. I asked people to share these posts in order to reach – as has happened– someone who would and could give me a kidney. Thanks to your sharing, I found a donor I did not know and who donated me one of his kidneys.
The page Un rein pour Judith / A kidney for Judith has been hacked and I can no longer change its name.
So I created a new facebook page (click on this link: Judith Bélair-Kyle – PKD Warrior) where I continue to share information about my story, PKD, kidney transplant and kidney disease! Feel free to subscribe and share the page for even more news, and to raise awareness of these extremely important issues!
Where can I get information about living kidney donation?
It is possible for a healthy person to donate one of their kidneys or part of their liver. The donation can be made anonymously or directed (I frequently share the stories of people who need a kidney on my facebook page). For more information on organ donation from a living person, you can consult these two pages:
https://www.transplantquebec.ca/don-vivant
http://jedonneunrein.ca
In addition, you should know that there is a Living Donor Expense Reimbursement Program in Quebec. This is used to compensate for a loss of income related to expenses incurred and the payback period, if it is not covered by your insurance.
Thank you all for your continued support, I love you and see you soon! Thank you for sharing my site and my situation and for making PKD known! ♥