A new podcast series raises awareness about kidney donation and transplant, to find more living donors for people urgently waiting for a new organ.
The 6-episode series called Kidney Kinship highlights the experiences of Black, South Asian and mixed-heritage communities and follows conversations with kidney donors, recipients, clinical experts and faith leaders. It includes honest discussions, lived experience and expert insight to help patients and families better understand kidney donation and transplantation.
Kidney Kinship is by Guy’s and St Thomas’, one of the biggest kidney transplant centres in the UK. It is produced by Unedited and was made possible thanks to funding from Guy’s & St Thomas’ Charity.
In the UK, a third of people waiting for a kidney transplant are from Black, Asian and global majority heritage, according to NHS Blood + Transplant. Black people can wait on average 6 months longer for an organ transplant than other people in the UK. Kidneys are matched by blood and tissue type and the best match is often people of the same ethnicity. However, donors who match are in short supply.
Ali Dawson donated a kidney to his former colleague after finding out she was very unwell with kidney failure.
Ali, 39, a diagnostic radiographer from Tooting in south London, had worked with Sonia at the start of his career. When he discovered through a social media post that she was ill, he contacted her and offered to donate his kidney. He was a good match, and in May 2017 the donation and transplant took place at Guy’s Hospital.
Ali said: “Every test was a match, and in my head I thought it was meant to be. Sonia and I were on the same ward at Guy’s. We made a bet – whoever got out of bed first would come to visit the other. Sonia visited me.
“The whole experience has been life enriching beyond anything I could describe. Of all the things I’ve ever done in my life, this has definitely been the happiest. It was a great feeling to know I’ve helped Sonia.
“I’m in contact every day with her now. I always wanted a sister – she’s like my new sibling.”
Some donors give a kidney through a shared or pooled scheme.
Prafula Shah wanted to donate her left kidney to her niece Shakti Shah, who was born with one kidney which did not function correctly. At the age of 24, Shakti’s kidney failed completely. While tests showed Prafula wasn’t a good match for Shakti, Prafula decided to donate through the UK Kidney Sharing Scheme in March 2018 so that Shakti could receive a new kidney from an unknown donor as well.
Communications consultant and Chair of the charity Jain and Hindu Organ Donation Alliance, Prafula, 67, from Kingsbury in north London, said: “I want people to know about the kidney sharing scheme, which can give people an option for living donation if they have someone like me willing to donate.
“Kidney donation and transplant can be difficult to talk about in families. It’s important to find the space and have these conversations because that helps to manage the situation, stress and any anxiety. Discussing the issue was very good for our family.
“Now, Shakti is doing amazingly well. She’s travelled to so many places around the world, met an amazing man and they are getting married – in fact, she’s asked me to officiate the ceremony! To see this happening for her is incredible. As a living donor, it’s a privilege to see the person progressing and doing well while you’re still alive.”
Angel Ogden was also a kidney donor, and she raises her experiences of the shared organ donor scheme – giving a kidney to an anonymous recipient, which can often lead to an organ transplant for their family or friend.
A TV appeal for a young boy needing a new kidney prompted police officer Angel, 43, to apply to donate. While she wasn’t a match for this child, she undertook extensive testing and gave her kidney at Guy’s in the shared scheme which benefitted multiple people including the child in the TV appeal.
Angel, from Balham in south London, said: “As soon as the pool matched instantly, it was just amazing. Everything aligned and the boy’s Christmas wish of a new kidney was answered.
“I want to help alleviate fears and stigmas around donating kidneys. I had such a positive response. If more people can understand the experience, maybe it can change another person’s life.”
Lisa Silas is an Advanced Nurse Practitioner in living kidney donation at Guy’s and St Thomas’ and also features in the episodes.
Lisa said: “This podcast series includes honest and personal testimony from those who have donated and received kidneys. The conversations provide important insights into the journeys of transplantation and we hope will be useful in supporting people to talk to friends and family about organ donation.”
The podcasts can be streamed from your usual platforms. Guy’s and St Thomas’ website has more information about kidney donation: www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/living-donor.
