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Triple M radio host passes away after lengthy health battle

Radio presenter Bob Peters has died following a long battle with polycystic kidney disease. Bob was only 45 years old when he was diagnosed with the chronic illness which saw his kidneys fail. The former announcer on 107.7 Triple M on the Central Coast of NSW was receiving ongoing dialysis every second day in hospital to help keep him alive. Unfortunately the side effects of the chronic illness led to other things such as golden staph infection, to preventative brain surgery due to an aneurysm. He was placed on the organ donor list to receive functioning kidneys and after 10 years a match was made. Tragically, it was only five years later in January 2021 that doctors discovered that Bob had in fact terminal cancer. This prompted Bob to quit his job and fulfil his dream of touring around Australia in an RV. His funeral is being held on Friday, June 24 at Mackay Family Funerals in Ourimbah, followed by a wake at Tall Timbers Hotel. Bob was also known for his work at the Nine Network and ARN, as well as his voice-overs for Channel 10 and Fox Sports. Images: Triple M

Caring

Misdiagnosed student learns she has incurable cancer

A young woman who suffered from severe pains was told it was due to her excessive drinking – when actually she had an incurable form of cancer. Georgia Ford would occasionally cough up blood, lose her breath easily and struggle to walk or exercise – but was told it was because of how much alcohol she drank. The 20-year-old was given stomach-lining tablets but over time her condition worsened - this time with weight loss and back pain. “Originally the GP said the sickness was acid reflux from the amount that I was drinking because I was a student,” Georgia told Kennedy News. However, when the law student came back from holiday she limited her drinking. But the pains persisted. She kept going back and forth with her doctor, who told Georgia that the pains she was feeling were all in her head due to anxiety. “They basically said that this was all in my head and I wasn’t ill at all. I said ‘I fail to believe that I’m having this many severe symptoms and it’s all in my head’. For almost a year-and-a-half Georgia searched for answers as to why she was feeling the way she was. It was only in November 2021, after Georgia booked a private appointment, that she was diagnosed with papillary renal cell carcinoma – a rare and aggressive form of kidney cancer. “I was just so shocked. Just any hope I had of it maybe being something else, it was just the most sinking feeling to be told basically the worst-case scenario and I was just so disappointed in everything,” she said. “Honestly it’s not been the same since that; that one moment has literally changed my life.” Doctors explained to the young student that the cancer had started off in her kidneys and spread to her lungs, liver, lymph nodes and bones. And it was then they told the aspiring lawyer that her condition was incurable, forcing her to accept that this is her life now. “It’s just like this overwhelming sadness that just fills you at the time,” she explained. Since the shocking diagnosis, Georgia has begun immunotherapy, which involves taking medication every day and having an intravenous drip every two weeks. She is always required to take portable oxygen tanks when she goes out, and when it’s time to sleep she requires an oxygen pipe to help her breathe. Doctors say this treatment will help Georgia’s cancer shrink to the point of having a “normal life” as much as possible. A <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/fightagainstprcc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a> page has been set up to help Georgia with her treatments. Images: 7News/GoFundMe

Body

6 warning signs of kidney stones – and what you can do to prevent them

Who develops kidney stones? Professor of urology, Dr Christopher Coogan, says about 10 to 15 per cent of the population will develop kidney stones in their lifetimes, small hard mineral deposits formed in the kidney that can be painful to pass, with white men ages 40 to 60 the most likely to have kidney stones. Those who already have had a kidney stone have a 50 per cent chance of developing another within 10 years. But how do you know if what you have is a kidney stone opposed to stomach or back pain? Sudden and severe pain Adults are often diagnosed with kidney stones after a trip to the emergency room or visit to their primary physician because of sudden severe abdominal and/or back pain they’ve been experiencing. This sudden and severe pain in the stomach and/or one side of the back is one of the classic symptoms of kidney stones. “Pain associated with kidney stones often comes on suddenly and is sometimes described as excruciating as the pain associated with labour,” says Dr Douglas Propp. Severe pain from which you can find no relief helps differentiate pain associated with kidney stones from a stomach ache or back strain. Pain associated with kidney stones can sometimes be confused with a backache because pain associated with kidney stones can start higher up in the back. As the stone moves closer to the bladder, the location of the pain can move lower. An important difference though: the back pain that accompanies kidney stones is unlike the pain of typical back strains because it is not associated with any movement. “One can usually figure out which side the kidney stone is on because the pain will typically, although not always, be on one side of the stomach versus the other,” says Dr Coogan. Kidney stones can range in size; Dr Coogan notes the average size of a kidney stone is 5 millimetres. However, the size of the stone doesn’t necessarily affect how much pain someone is in. Even a very tiny kidney stone can cause a “whole lot of hurt,” says Dr Coogan. Kidney stones can be so painful that they awaken people from sleep and prevent them from finding a standing, sitting, or lying down position that provides relief. “The pain can come on at any time and is severe, typically preventing the individual from finding a comfortable position, says Dr Propp. Blood in the urine Another possible warning sign of kidney stones is finding blood in one’s urine. Dr Coogan says this occurs in the majority of patients who have kidney stones. Blood in the urine is an abnormal condition and you should get evaluated if you notice this symptom. Other warning signs While sudden and severe stomach and/or back pain and blood in the urine can be key indicators of kidney stones, Dr Propp and Dr Coogan noted other warning signs that patients should look for: <ul> <li>Nausea</li> <li>Vomiting</li> <li>Perspiring</li> <li>Turning very pale because of the pain</li> <li>Certain types of kidney stones can also cause infections, which can lead to fevers.</li> </ul> “When the kidney gets obstructed, it can lead to fever because there can be back up of urine and that can lead to an infection,” says Dr Coogan. How kidney stones are diagnosed and treated Kidney stones can be diagnosed through X-ray, ultrasound, or CAT scan and are typically found after a person visits the emergency room or makes an appointment with their primary care physician because of the pain they’ve been experiencing. Dr Propp says most patients pass their kidney stones, leading to significant relief of their symptoms. But some kidney stones require surgery to remove them. Doctors sometimes prescribe medication to either manage the pain associated with kidney stones or to help the stone pass. “The smaller the stone is the more likely it is to pass on its own, not requiring surgery,” says Dr Coogan. How to prevent kidney stones Dr Coogan says one way people can prevent kidney stones from developing is to drink enough water, as dehydration is considered one of the main causes. Water helps to dilute the substances in urine that lead to kidney stones. You should also watch your sodium intake. A high-sodium diet can increase the amount of calcium in your urine. When calcium combines with oxalate or phosphorus, it creates kidney stones. Keep your sodium intake to no more than 2300 milligrams (mg) a day; if you’ve had kidney stones in the past, reduce that amount to 1500 mg. Limiting your animal protein can also help. Too much animal protein, such as red meat, poultry, eggs, and seafood, increases the amount of uric acid in your body. Uric acid is another kidney stone culprit. Written by Colette Harris. This article first appeared in <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/6-warning-signs-of-kidney-stones-and-what-you-can-do-to-prevent-them" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRA87V" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here’s our best subscription offer.</a>

Body

Woman brutally dumped after donating an organ to her partner

Image: TikTok Donating a kidney to somebody in need is not an easy decision. But when a young woman named Colleen had the chance to change her boyfriend’s life six years ago, she didn’t think twice about donating the vital organ. In a series of viral videos, the TikTok star explained how she made the decision to have the procedure to save his life according to The Sun. When they first got together, Colleen said her boyfriend had been upfront about how he’d been struggling with chronic kidney disease since the age of 17. This meant he had to be on dialysis and his kidneys functioned at just 5% at average capacity. She explained: “I decided to get tested to see if we were a match because I didn’t want to watch him die.” Luckily for the couple, the surgeries went well and both parties recovered. But while you’d naturally assume the man would be eternally grateful to his girlfriend for what she did for him, he then cheated on her seven months later. In a follow-up video, Colleen explained how her ex-boyfriend told her he was going to Las Vegas for a bachelor party with some guys in his church. At the time, the TikToker was in a busy exam period and trusted her boyfriend completely so didn’t think anything of it. Until he turned up on her doorstep and confessed to cheating. “A lot of arguments later, I eventually forgave him and gave him a second chance,” she said. However, three months later the now ex brutally dumped Colleen over the phone. She claims he said: “If we are meant for each other, God will bring us back together in the end.” Unfortunately, the break-up only got messier from there, when her ex told her: “You only donated your kidney to look good”.

Relationships

The most common genetic kidney disorder you've probably never heard of

Autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease (<a href="https://pkdaustralia.org/adpkd/">ADPKD</a>) is the most common genetic kidney disorder, and the <a href="https://www.anzdata.org.au/report/anzdata-41st-annual-report-2018-anzdata/">fourth most common</a> cause of kidney failure in Australian adults. It affects about <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/imj.13143">one in 1,000 Australians</a>. In people with ADPKD, a mutation in one or two genes leads to the development and progressive growth of cysts in the kidneys, causing a decline in kidney function. Labor senator Malarndirri McCarthy, a Yanyuwa woman, recently spoke publicly about having ADPKD after <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/senator-reveals-kidney-disease-that-saw-her-leave-question-time-for-hospital-20190802-p52d8w.html">she became unwell</a> with a kidney infection and had to leave the Senate. But a newly available treatment for ADPKD shows promise for people with the disease.<a href="http://theconversation.com/explainer-what-is-chronic-kidney-disease-and-why-are-one-in-three-at-risk-of-this-silent-killer-81942"></a> What is ADPKD? If one parent has ADPKD, the children have a 50 per cent chance of inheriting the gene (though <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/imj.13143">up to 10 per cent</a> of patients don’t have a family history). Where it is inherited, the age of diagnosis and rate of progression to kidney failure in the parent gives some indication of how the disease will develop in affected children. The cysts are like balloons filled with water, which start small in childhood and increase in size over time. Typically, the cysts don’t start to cause problems until later in life. The average age at diagnosis is <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1402685">27 years</a>. As the cysts grow, normal working tissue in the kidney is replaced with enlarging cysts. So with time, the kidneys don’t work as well. For about <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/imj.13143">half of people with ADPKD</a>, their condition will eventually progress to kidney failure, which may be treated with dialysis or a transplant. While the loss of kidney function is paramount, the cysts may cause other symptoms and complications too. Symptoms can include high blood pressure and chronic pain or heaviness in the back, sides and abdomen. The growth of cysts means the kidneys can grow to as large as <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1464-410X.2007.07229.x">5-6kg in size</a>. Blood in the urine, urinary tract infections, kidney stones and infections in the cysts are not uncommon in people with ADKPD, and can all impact quality of life. Other organs may also be affected. People with ADPKD can develop cysts in the liver, pancreas and bowel, and about 10 per cent will experience balloon dilations of the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26260542">blood vessels in the brain</a>, called aneurysms. Treatment Until recently, treatment of ADPKD was directed towards early detection, control of blood pressure, lifestyle measures such as quitting smoking, weight control and diet, antibiotics for infections, analgesics for pain and the management of progressive kidney dysfunction via dialysis and transplantation. None of these therapies however directly slowed the growth of cysts. But on January 1, 2019, tolvaptan <a href="https://pkdaustralia.org/news/">was listed</a> on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Australia now joins the United States, the European Union, and several other countries where this drug was already available. Tolvaptan, which is taken in tablet form, slows the growth of cysts by <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28379536">blocking a hormone called vasopressin</a>. Vasopressin is critical in triggering the formation of cysts. In this way, tolvaptan prolongs the time to kidney failure. In one study, three years of treatment with tolvaptan <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1205511">reduced the rate of cyst growth</a> by around 50 per cent in comparison to a placebo treatment. The authors suggested tolvaptan may delay dialysis or the need for a transplant for six to nine years for patients with ADPKD, particularly if started early. People who took tolvaptan in this study also had lower incidence of ADPKD-related complications including urinary tract infections and kidney pain. Kidney disease and Indigenous Australians ADPKD is not actually more common in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, as other causes of <a href="https://www.menzies.edu.au/page/Research/Indigenous_Health/Diabetes_and_kidney_disease/Kidney/">chronic kidney disease</a> are. This may be because ADPKD is inherited. The majority of chronic kidney disease develops as a complication of diabetes, which affects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations more commonly and typically <a href="https://www.menzies.edu.au/page/Research/Indigenous_Health/Diabetes_and_kidney_disease/Diabetes/">at a younger age</a> than the overall Australian population. Kidney disease, whatever the cause, remains a significant issue for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. People in remote Indigenous communities in particular face challenges around accessing treatments in large urban centres, and have poorer access to organ transplants. There are several nationally targeted activities and proposals aimed at reducing the burden of chronic kidney disease in Indigenous Australians. The <a href="https://www.menzies.edu.au/icms_docs/281923_Roundtable_Towards_Roadmap_For_Renal_Health_-_Media_Release.pdf">Renal Health RoadMap</a> is designed to support health systems in early detection and management of diabetes and chronic kidney disease. It also seeks to address the social determinants of poor health in Indigenous communities, including housing quality and availability, and health infrastructure. In 2018, Minister for Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt commissioned <a href="https://www.tsanz.com.au/TSANZ%20Performance%20Report%20-%20Improving%20Indigenous%20Transplant%20Outcomes%20(Final%20edited)-1.pdf">a report</a> detailing how access to and outcomes of kidney transplants could be improved among Indigenous Australians. He also established a <a href="https://www.anzdata.org.au/anzdata/for-information-2/tsanz/">National Indigenous Kidney Transplantation Taskforce</a> to implement the recommendations from this report. Some key recommendations include improving the communication between health-care teams, patients and their families, addressing cultural bias in the delivery of health care, and improving the quality of data around transplant access and outcomes. Addressing transplant and treatment inequities will benefit Indigenous Australians with kidney failure sustained from ADPKD and chronic kidney disease more broadly. Written by Karen Dwyer, Deputy Head, School of Medicine, Deakin University and Jaquelyne Hughes, Senior Research Fellow, Menzies School of Health Research. Republished with permission of <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/polycystic-kidney-disease-the-most-common-genetic-kidney-disorder-youve-probably-never-heard-of-121441" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.

Body

7 innocent mistakes that put your kidneys in trouble

If your kidneys aren’t working properly, you could raise your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Here are seven things you may be doing that could jeopardise the health of your kidneys. 1. You’re a fan of packaged food Most processed food is chock-full of sodium, which isn’t just bad for your heart, it can lead to kidney problems. When you’re showing signs that you eat too much salt, your body needs to flush the sodium out when you wee, and it takes calcium with it. In turn, having too much calcium in your urine increases your risk for kidney stones, says nephrologist Dr James Simon. In Australia, the National Health and Medical Research Council has set an ‘Adequate Intake’ of sodium at 460–920 mg per day (equivalent to about 1.15-2.3 g of salt), however because on average we consume about 10,000 mg of sodium, the suggested dietary target is 1600 mg (equivalent to about 4 g of salt). One teaspoon of salt equals 2300 mg of sodium – 700 mg higher than the dietary target. Check the nutritional label on processed food, you’ll be surprised just how quickly sodium can add up. In fact, processed and fast food is where more than 75 per cent of the sodium we consume comes from. “People look at carbs and fat and kilojoules, but they don’t pay attention to sodium,” says Dr Simon. 2. Your blood pressure is out of control High blood pressure is hard on your whole body, including your kidneys. “Kidneys are basically one big set of blood vessels with urine drains,” says Dr Simon. “If you have high blood pressure in your big blood vessels, you have high blood pressure in your smaller blood vessels.” Letting high blood pressure go unchecked could damage the blood vessels leading to your kidneys, plus scar the organs themselves. 3. You haven’t kicked your smoking habit If you thought lung cancer was the only reason to put down the cigarettes, think again. A 2012 study found that quitting smoking for 16 or more years cut the risk of renal cell carcinoma (the most common form of kidney cancer in adults) by 40 per cent. Plus, smoking can damage the blood vessels and increase your risk of high blood pressure. “It’s another reason smoking is just bad on the body,” says Dr Simon. 4. You never drink when you’re thirsty Contrary to popular belief, you don’t necessarily need to down a full eight glasses of water to keep your kidneys working well. Even with just four to six glasses of water a day, your kidneys are probably fine, says Dr Simon. But sticking with just a cup or two a day could challenge the organ. Not only will you not have enough water flushing out your system to keep your sodium levels in check, but a dehydrated body will have a harder time keeping blood pressure steady. “The kidney is very sensitive to blood flow,” says Dr Simon. “It won’t like it if you are so dehydrated that your blood pressure drops and the blood flow to your kidneys drops.” You probably won’t need to worry about that level of dehydration every day, but make sure you drink enough water if you’re exercising a lot or outside on a hot day, he says. 5. You pop painkillers constantly Watch out if you take over-the-counter medication for chronic pain. Anti-inflammatory drugs, which include ibuprofen and aspirin, reduce blood flow to the kidneys, and cause scarring because they’re directly toxic to the organ, says Dr Simon. Nobody’s saying you need to suffer through a throbbing headache, but popping anti-inflammatory pills too often can increase your risk of kidney problems. “The people at risk are taking them on a daily basis for long periods of time,” says Dr Simon. But if you already have kidney damage, he recommends avoiding these drugs altogether. 6. You assume supplements are safe Just because a product is marketed as ‘natural’ doesn’t mean it’s good for you. “There are plenty of herbal medicines out there that are harmful,” says Dr Simon. Case in point: a plant-based ingredient called aristolochic acid can be found in ‘traditional medicines’, but it can cause scarring in the kidneys. Consumers are warned to stay away from products listing Aristolochia, Asarum or Bragantia on the label, because they probably contain the harmful ingredient. Unless you’re taking a regular multivitamin, always check with your doctor before starting any kind of supplement, advises Dr Simon. 7. Your weight is pushed to the side No surprises here: extra kilos are hard on your body. Being overweight puts you at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, which in turn can increase your chances of developing kidney disease. Insulin issues from both type 1 and type 2 diabetes cause inflammation and scarring in the kidneys, says Dr Simon. “Anybody with diabetes should be getting their kidney function and urine checked on a fairly regular basis,” he says. Written by Marissa Laliberte. This article first appeared in <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/conditions/7-innocent-mistakes-that-put-your-kidneys-in-trouble" target="_blank">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRA93V">here’s our best subscription offer.</a> <img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" />

Body

Shocking revelation: Woman’s “kidney infection” turns out to be triplets

A woman got the shock of her life when she was informed about what she thought was supposed to be a kidney infection was actually the side effects of a pregnancy - to triplets! Dannette Giltz, from the US state of South Dakota, made headlines around the world for giving birth to healthy triplets on August 10, although she initially thought she had kidney stones. The mother of three said she began to have pain when she was around 34 weeks pregnant. When she went to the hospital she was quickly informed the pains she felt meant she was actually in labor. Her husband Austin was holding two babies when doctors asked for another blanket. "His reaction is like, ‘excuse me, put it back, no, I was told I have twins, I'm not doing triplets’,” Ms Glitz told KOTA-TV. “She's like, ‘no, there's three babies in here, there's triplets’.” The story went viral on social media, with many people taking to the comments to humorously “apologise” for the three children. “I am sure she is thrilled… not,” one person wrote. Another added “She wanted the kidney stones instead!” The triplets were all born within four minutes of each other. Each weighed in at around 1.8 kilograms and were named Blaze, Gypsy and Nikki.

Caring

Waitress donates kidney to her customer

A waitress from Georgia offered one of her kidneys to a customer after she had learned that he had lost both of his kidneys. Waitress Mariana Villarreal was serving Don Thomas in May 2016 when she made the generous offer. When she had learned of Don’s kidney situation the waitress said, “Well I have two kidneys, do you want one of mine?” Her offer took Don by surprise but he accepted and had a successful surgery. It has almost been a year from their meeting and the pair still meet up. Mariana wrote on Instagram that she Don two to three times a month. “He's doing amazing! No kidney problems at all! #friendsforlife,” she wrote. Mariana’s decision to donate her kidney was influenced by her grandmother who died from kidney failure. Although she couldn’t donate to her grandma she explained, “If (Don) can live two more years, happy as he's ever been, that's fine with me.” Image credit: mariana_tolentino7 via Instagram Related Links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/finance/money-banking/2017/02/7-year-old-boy-collects-over-ten-thousand-food-items-for-charity/">7 year old boy collects over 10,000 food items for charity</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2017/01/husband-gives-wife-kidney-for-anniversary/">Husband to give wife a kidney for 20th anniversary</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2016/12/frequent-flyer-donates-points-to-less-fortunate-families/">Man buys flights so less fortunate people can see their families at Christmas</a>

Retirement Life

Grandma gives toddler second chance with kidney transplant

A toddler with severe kidney problems has received a lifesaving transplant from his 59-year-old grandmother, in one of the largest age-gap donations ever. Three-year-old Jack Cox was born without a kidney, and with just four per cent function in the other. After spending the first two years of his life in considerable pain, he was put on dialysis last autumn when his remaining kidney began to fail. But, just as all seemed lost, his 59-year-old grandmother Julie Cox stepped in and offered one of her own. Much to the family’s delight, they were a perfect match. Julie told the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au" target="_blank">Huffington Post</a>, “I just knew it would be me, don’t ask me why but I just had this feeling. I even started getting ready to save holiday so I could book time off work because I knew it. The surgeons told me this happens more than you think - there’s just something in the genes that tells you. It was the best match we could have hoped for. "The doctors don’t even understand it how it’s possible for me to share that many of sets of genes with him. Doctors are often concerned about children receiving adult kidneys, but when they looked at my left kidney it was only two thirds the size of a normal adult kidney but it was doing 45% of the work so was fine. "I feel like I was born to donate a kidney to Jack.” What a lovely story. You have to admire Julie’s sacrifice, and she’ll now have a bond with Jack that will last forever. Share any messages of support in the comments. Related links: <a href="/news/news/2016/08/grandson-surprises-grandparents-with-brand-new-car/">Grandson surprises grandparents with brand new car</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/08/grandson-not-ashamed-of-grandparents-underwear/">Grandson not ashamed of his grandparent’s underwear</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/08/grandmother-gives-up-spot-on-organ-transplant-list/">Great grandmother gives up spot on organ transplant list for younger woman</a>

News

Grandpa goes to beautiful lengths to save his grandson’s life

A grandfather in the US has come up with an ingenious idea to save his grandson, who was born with just one kidney which doesn’t function properly. Unfortunately, Howard Broadman will be too old to donate a kidney by the time grandson Quinn needs a transplant, so he’s done the next best thing – a “kidney voucher”. This would involve Broadman donating a kidney to a stranger now, while he is able, in exchange for a “kidney voucher”. This credit could then be used by Quinn when the time comes that would place him at the top of the waitlist. Together with Dr Jeffrey Veale, the loving grandfather set up the UCLA Kidney Transplantation Exchange program, which he kicked off by donating one of his kidneys to a patient on the waitlist. “This is groundbreaking and could completely change the field of transplantation,” Dr Veale said. “The demand for a kidney transplant is tremendous, but with this program, I would argue that, for the first time in history, we can actually start reducing the number of people who are on the waitlist.” What an incredible and selfless idea. Do you think a program like this should be introduced in New Zealand? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below. Related links: <a href="/news/news/2016/07/cancer-survivors-prove-scars-are-beautiful/">Cancer survivors prove scars are beautiful</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/06/teacher-donates-kidney-to-student/">Teacher donates kidney to her student</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/01/grandma-donates-kidney-to-sick-toddler/">Grandmother donates kidney to two-year-old grandson</a>

News

Teacher donates kidney to her student

A teacher in the US has gone above and beyond the call of duty, donating a kidney to her 8-year-old student in need. After suffering for years from prune belly syndrome (a group of birth defects which affects the kidneys), Natasha Fuller is finally on her way to living a normal life, after her teacher Jodi Schmidt donated one of her kidneys to the young girl. “She has been sick her whole life, so she feels like that’s normal for her, and I’m just excited to watch her actually feel good,” Schmidt told <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/teacher-volunteers-to-donate-her-kidney-to-first-grade-student-661200451862" target="_blank">NBC News</a>. The teacher says that discovering she was a match was “the best day ever”. In a statement released on Facebook, the Fuller family said both donor and recipient were recovering well. “Thanks to Jodi’s amazing gift and support of her family, we are with Tasha as she recovers and gets stronger after the transplant,” they said. “Her doctors […] say that everything went well and that we could not have asked for a better organ.” Thanks to Schmidt’s selfless gift, Fuller no longer has to rely on dialysis and can finally be as healthy and happy as she always wanted to be. What’s the most generous gift you’ve ever received from someone? Tell us about it in the comments below. Related links: <a href="/news/news/2016/06/supermarket-worker-random-act-of-kindness/">Supermarket worker’s random act of kindness goes viral</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/06/three-lifelong-friends-celebrate-100th-birthdays-together/">3 lifelong friends celebrate 100th birthdays together</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/06/sports-team-helps-elderly-man/">Primary school sports team help elderly man move firewood</a>

News

Grandmother donates kidney to two-year-old grandson

A generous grandmother is giving up one of her kidneys in the hope her grandson can live a healthy life after he fell ill from a rare syndrome. Two-year-old Kaije Archer was born with congenital nephrotic syndrome, a rare disorder that causes the body to swell due to defective proteins in the kidney. At just four days old he had his first kidney removed. He has undergone two years of protein infusions three times a week, for four hours a day to keep him healthy. Now at two-and-a-half years old he medically deemed ready for a kidney transplant and will have his remaining kidney taken out later this week. After his operation Kaije will be kept alive on dialysis for six weeks until he receives a new kidney from his very own grandmother. Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2016/01/stunning-mid-air-firework-video/">Drone captures footage of fireworks display mid-air in this spectacular video</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2016/01/tips-to-make-dairy-products-last-longer/">7 tips to make dairy products last longer</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2016/01/spot-the-panda-hidden-in-this-vintage-school-photo/">Spot the panda hidden in this vintage school photo</a>

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Hamilton mum loses 13kg to donate kidney to son

Suzanne Nicholson didn't have to search for motivation when she was sweating it out at the gym. The Hamilton mother was driven to get her kidneys in the best condition possible before she donated one to son Chris on his 27th birthday. Four months later, Chris is preparing for a new job. And Suzanne's achievements have been recognised with a top award from women's gym network Curves - New Zealand Curvette of the Year 2015. "I was still lying in bed after the transplant and the curtain opened and there was this, hello, Mum. I couldn't believe it. He had his trolley, drips and things," Suzanne, 58, said. "He needed a kidney, I needed to give him the best I could. Therefore I got fitter and more healthy and I feel really good. And in doing so, Christopher's got a new life. We've helped each other." Suzanne, who is visually impaired, shed 13kg over the 18 months before the surgery, walking to Curves Chartwell up to four times a week to work out. Chris was astounded. "I've tried to walk down to the letterbox with my eyes closed and I can barely do that. Mum manages to cross two busy roads to get to the gym." The surgery at Auckland Hospital on August 19 came after Chris's kidney function got down to 15 per cent after a 13-year battle with kidney disease. He was too unwell to put his paramedic's degree to use when he finished it in 2013. He was spending most of his non-lecture time in bed at that point. He moved back to Hamilton and, to keep positive, studied for a graduate diploma in earth science and kept up hobbies, such as guitar making. "I always felt like I was in limbo - couldn't fully get into something," he said. He made the transplant waiting list when he was on the verge of needing dialysis, and Suzanne and husband Nick were both eager to be donors. Suzanne proved the more compatible, an idea Chris found hard. "All I could think of was something would go wrong with Mum and it'd just be terrible." But Suzanne, who'd had "every test you can imagine", didn't have any doubts. "It was a feeling of relief ... We've got the all clear. Huge relief. I think I felt proud, but it's more than proud. I needed to do it, I wanted to do it," she said. "You can liken it to the day you get married or the day you have a child." Her mission to get to optimum health began, and when doctors labelled her donation a super kidney, she felt her efforts and the support of Curves had paid off. Recovery is well under way. Suzanne has been cleared to go back to the gym and, according to Chris, "things are pretty damn good." He has gained about a kilogram and is now healthy enough to take up a job as an anaesthetic technician trainee in the North Shore. "[It's] pretty much my dream job." He's grateful to live in New Zealand, too, saying in America, the treatment might have required remortgaging the house. Curves Chartwell owner Pamela Lansdown said significant change for Suzanne happened over the past year. "Once she realised she was compatible [as a donor], that was her whole focus." It's the second year running that Chartwell has had the Curvette of the Year - Michelle Greenwood won the title in 2014. Written by Libby Wilson. First appeared on <a href="http://www.Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz</a>. Related links: <a href="/health/caring/2015/12/grandmother-retires-after-52-years-walking-kids-to-school/">Grandmother retires after 52 years walking kids to school</a> <a href="/health/caring/2015/12/9-year-old-raises-money-for-sick-kids/">9-year-old raises $100,000 for sick kids</a> <a href="/health/caring/2015/12/twins-meet-at-birth/">Wonderful moment newborn twins meet for the first time</a>

Caring

73-year-old war veteran donates kidney to friend

A 73-year-old war veteran has donated one of his kidneys to his commander from the Vietnam War, in a heart-warming story of a bond that transcends distance and time. Veterans John Middaugh and Bill Warner served together in Vietnam and both men received the Purple Heart award for their services. While they’ve been separated by distance and time, the pair retain an everlasting bond to this day. So when Mr Warner needed a kidney, Mr Middaugh was more than happy to offer one of his. Mr Warner said: “It’s been some ride. So we’re looking forward for me getting my appetite back, getting my weight back, getting my handicap back down to 17. It’s up to 36 now.” Mr Middaugh has been released; Mr Warner remains hospitalised in good condition.

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Hamilton mum loses 13kg to donate kidney to son

73-year-old war veteran donates kidney to friend

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