Why I gave a kidney to my friend

It's funny, whenever people hear that I've donated one of my kidneys they say things like: 'Aren't you wonderful' or 'That's amazing' or 'You're such a special person.' And the fact is I don't feel wonderful or special or that I did a particularly amazing thing. The doctors are the ones who did the special and amazing thing by performing the transplant.

The transplant op was easy for me - I was asleep! Yes I was a bit sore afterwards but believe me, childbirth was 10 times worse! By the end of Post-Op Day 2 I was only needing paracetamol - which amazed me because I haven't got a high pain threshold at all. I was discharged from hospital 5 days after the transplant and my friend Sarah went home on day 6.

What's lovely for me to see is Sarah & her family being able to enjoy just being plain, boring 'normal' - something which is all to easy to take for granted. If I had another spare kidney I'd do it again in a heartbeat. However, until I die it's unlikely I'll do anything like this again - but I've signed up to Save5 so that when I do die more people will be able to have that plain, amazing and wonderfully boring 'normal' life - that I definitely took for granted.

Sue Sandeman

What it means to be well again

When Sue offered to donate one of her kidneys I was overwhelmed with emotion. We have been good friends for over 25 years and she was offering to give me the best gift ever that could change my life. Before my transplant I continually felt exhausted and unwell. For almost 6 years I had to dialyse 4 times a day every day and if I wanted to go out I had to plan around it or take a heavy suitcase of dialysis fluids and paraphernalia with me. The strain on my family and me was immense and that’s all been lifted now thanks to Sue.

I have gone from having to watch how much I eat and drink (and I don’t mean alcohol, although I do now drink a little) to being able to enjoy little things that most people take for granted, like bananas and mushroom soup, tropical fruit and potatoes in their jackets. I can now go out for a whole day if I want and more to the point I can be spontaneous. This summer, for the first time in nearly 10 years, I travelled to Croatia with my husband, daughter and our dog by car and we enjoyed a fabulous holiday spending time with family and friends.

I feel much better and everyone says I look so much better. I thank Sue every day for making this possible, oh and my surgeon and his team!

Sarah Ilic