When Ian Salter’s son David was rushed to hospital with kidney failure there was no doubt in his mind what he could do to help.

“I told him I had a spare kidney waiting for him and told him to tell the doctors”.

Within months, Ian became one of the 34 live kidney donors who, this year, put themselves forward to improve the life of another; this is often, but not always, a close friend or relative. The 68 year old from Chatteris, Cambridgeshire has since raised funds for Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB) Charity to support other live kidney donors.

Ian’s son David, who is now aged 44 and lives in Cradley Heath, near Dudley, first discovered he had a problem with his kidneys in 2008 after routine checks following a car accident flagged up extremely high blood pressure and poor kidney function.  Over the next few years David took blood pressure medication to keep that under control. Then in 2014, after routine medical checks, it became clear that his kidney function was worsening and dialysis was looking a real possibility. David attempted to resolve his kidney problem with alternative treatments, as the idea of dialysis and transplantation were not something he wanted to seriously consider.

“I didn’t know how bad it was,” explains Dad Ian, “He was trying to control the condition through his diet, and various naturopathic treatments, but this did not have the desired affects.

“But then in 2015 David became really ill. He was in such a bad condition when they called 999 that he was taken to hospital in an ambulance. When he got to QEHB he was very close to death. David and his fiancée Rosie decided he had to follow the doctors’ advice and get on dialysis.”

With kidney function reduced to just two percent, David was soon on dialysis for three evenings a week, each session lasting four hours. At this point three members of David's family began to look at the possibility of a live kidney donation and, remarkably, initial tests identified all three were potential donors: Dad Ian, David’s brother Mark and half-brother Brian. Extensive further tests revealed that Ian was the most suitable donor. 

“I was asked why I was doing it but if it is you’re family you don’t think about it. There was no question about going through with this: we were all in a process and doing what needed to be done. The key lesson is that donors are really well looked after; you can put yourself forward in complete confidence that they will make sure you are healthy with rigorous tests.”

Potential donors undergo a series of tests to ensure they are fit enough to donate and minimise the risks involved.

Ian admits: “During that time, a period of about 18-months the wider family – wives, fiancées, girlfriends, daughters - were very concerned but were always supportive”.

In March 2016 Ian and David underwent the transplant. “After surgery I was told that David’s kidney had worked straight away even though it can often take a week or more – it was like a miracle. We were on separate wards but we could text each other and just two days after the operation, David appeared at my door, having walked from his ward!”

Since the operation Ian has recovered well and has given a talk about the transplant and raised money for the QEHB Charity. David and fiancée Rosie married last summer; “To see him swinging down the aisle with a big grin on his face was incredible!” says Ian.

“On the day he was rushed in they told me he was at death’s door. I just told him I have a spare kidney. I can’t say I even thought about it. People might say it is brave but everyone would do the same if the person they loved needed it.”

The QEHB Charity’s renal live donor fund is used to provide patient amenities. This can include wi-fi, comfier chairs and cushions, iPads in the waiting areas, improved decoration to make it feel less clinical and anything that helps to improve the patient experience of those kindly choosing to give a kidney.

QEHB Charity’s Senior Fundraiser, Cathryn Worth, said: “The fund was set up and is led by the nurses in the department and any funds raised will be spent within the transplant department to support live donors and make their hospital experience as pleasant as possible. The nurses felt this was the least that could be done for those who are giving such an amazing gift; whether to someone they know or to a stranger.”

To support kidney patients by helping to fund equipment, research and facilities at QEHB’s Kidney Department, please donate to QEHB Charity at qehb.org or call 0121 371 4852 for more information.

World Kidney Day (WKD) is an annual global awareness and education event, organised by Kidney Charities Together (KCT) group and held on the second Thursday in March. Every year, countless local, national and international events are organised by kidney charities, healthcare professionals, patient groups and individuals who want to make a difference.

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