About 250 people are undergoing kidney treatment and 70 are awaiting a transplant. After a woman posted an online appeal for a kidney for the father of her son, more than 20 volunteers came forward. The Transplant Support Group is hoping others on the waiting list will benefit from the generous offers. Claudia Calleja spoke to some of them.
Back on the waiting list
David Vella feels guilty that his health condition did not allow him to be such an active father to his younger daughter as he had been for her two elder sisters.
“Last week I was out in the garden with two of my three daughters – Roxanne, Jacqueline and Kristina. Jacqueline, 22, said the camping days were among the best times of her life. My youngest daughter, Kristina, 15, broke my heart. She said: ‘Dad’s never taken me camping’,” the 53-year-old said.
“It’s hard to accept the changes you have to go through when you have kidney problems,” he added.
Mr Vella, a diabetic for over 20 years, suffered a double kidney failure in 2002. The home dialysis treatment was not compatible with him, so he had to start dialysis in hospital.
Initially, all was well but after some time his health started deteriorating. He had to stop working.
During Christmastime, in 2002, his brother-in-law, James Muscat, offered to donate his kidney and he was overwhelmed by the courageous gesture.
“I was the first living non-related transplant... I was really scared before the operation. As soon as I came out of the anaesthetic, I opened my eyes and felt different immediately. The effect is unbelievable, it’s amazing,” he said.
But, six months later, his body started rejecting the new kidney. Three years ago, the kidney shut down completely and he had to return to dialysis. He is now back on the waiting list.
“It would mean getting my life back. I go for dialysis Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in the morning and when I come home I’ll be so drained I just go straight to bed. There’s nothing much I can do.
“Being on dialysis is an existence. Without hope for a transplant... I find it hard to actually say this...but I wouldn’t see the point in continuing,” he said.
A kidney to support my family
Brian Cortis would love to have a kidney transplant so that he can get back to his normal work routine and provide for his wife and three young children.
He is a vegetable hawker and for the past year and over he has been turning up in his village spot two hours later as he first has to complete his dialysis session.
Mr Cortis, 35, has been suffering from diabetes since he was 11. About 18 months ago he went to hospital because of high blood pressure and learnt his kidneys were functioning on 10 per cent capacity. He was immediately referred to the renal unit and, in February last year, he underwent an operation to install the “pipe work” so he could carry out dialysis using the home system.
“I spend nine hours every night on dialysis and half an hour during the day at about 2 p.m. to avoid excessive water retention,” he said.
Now his dialysis dictates his life and a kidney transplant is the only way out.
“I would like to do the operation. I don’t like depending on machines. Before, I used to be selling vegetables by 7 a.m. But now I can only make it at about 9 a.m. But there’s nothing I can do,” he said.
“We used to go out every Sunday evening but now I can’t join them. I have to start dialysis early if I am to be at work by a decent time... I have a wife and three children who depend on me.
Giving a special gift
About 10 years ago, James Muscat went to visit his brother-in-law in hospital after he was diagnosed with double renal failure.
“The minute I saw him hooked onto a machine I said to myself: I’ll see what I can do to help,” he said.
He started doing some research and started compatibility tests to see if he could donate a kidney to his brother-in-law, David Vella. His family supported his decision. When his consultant assured him he was physically fit to undergo such an operation, he shared the news with his brother-in-law.
“I told him over Christmastime, 2002. I went to his house and told him I had a gift for him. I told him I didn’t spend anything and it was a special gift – a gift of life. I wanted to give him a kidney and had initiated the process. His reaction was disbelief,” he recalled.
The two started undergoing medical tests. This was the first time in Malta’s medical history that an unrelated kidney donation was taking place. The hospital had to set up an ethical committee to deal with the sensitivity of the matter. Since then, there have been only three living, unrelated kidney transplants.
The operation took place on February 25, 2004. It was successful but, a few months later, the kidney started shutting down and Mr Vella had to start dialysis again.
“In spite of the fact that he requires treatment and medication now, we both believe he was given a new lease of life for a number of years,” Mr Muscat said.
Show your support tomorrow by going on a Fun Walk to mark World Kidney Day
The public can show their support towards renal patients by joining a fun walk being held tomorrow as part of the activities to mark World Kidney Day. Participants will be gathering at 9.30 a.m. at Tigné square at The Point in Sliema for registration. The walk starts at 10 a.m. and ends at St George’s Square in Valletta. A €10 participation fee will go towards the Transplant Support Group.
The walk is organised by pharmaceutical company Vivian Corporation in collaboration with the support group.
More details visit www.transplant support.com.mt.