A man who “gained back his life” following a kidney transplant after both his kidneys failed when he was just 24 is hoping to raise awareness about organ donation, which would give a new lease of life to some 80 fellow kidney patients.

Jeffrey Bonnici, 39, on Sunday took part in a walk from Sliema to Valletta organised by the Transplant Support Group (Malta), in collaboration with the Renal Unit at Mater Dei Hospital to raise awareness on healthy kidneys and women’s health.

The weekend marked his fourth anniversary since the latest – and second – transplant, which he says helped him get back his life. In 2003, Mr Bonnici started suffering visual difficulties as a result of high blood pressure, and it eventually transpired that his kidneys had failed.

Following a year of haemodialysis, which is a process of purifying blood for those with kidney failure, he received a kidney from his mother, Frances Gatt. However, his body rejected it after a year-and-a-half and he spent another eight years being hooked up to a dialysis machine.

This meant a routine of three times a week at the hospital, maintaining a limited diet and giving up his passion for travelling, as he could not be away from the island for more than three days. He recalls that one of the saddest things was the judgemental looks he received from people who noticed needle marks on his inner arms.

“That surely did not lift up my spirits following a dialysis session, which used to leave me feeling drained,” he said.

Amy Camilleri and Jeffrey Bonnici

On March 10, 2014, he had a kidney transplant from someone who had passed away.  Yesterday, he walked with fellow kidney receiver Amy Camilleri, 42.

Ms Camilleri is another living example of the importance of organ donation, which has helped her get off dialysis and lead an active life. She too received a kidney twice: thanks to her mother’s kidney she lived to have two children and then thanks to her sister, she will see them grow up.

She continues to raise awareness in support of patients receiving dialysis treatment while awaiting transplant.

Transplantation of organs, tissues and cells has immense potential to save and improve lives – one organ donor can save up to eight lives. In Malta, anyone aged over 16 can register their wish to donate or not to donate their organs after death.

Transplant Support Group president James Muscat noted that over the past 15 months more than 12,000 people registered as organ donors on the official website www.organdonation.gov.mt and more living donors were volunteering to donate a kidney to patients on the waiting list for a transplant.

Those interested in being a living kidney donor can contact the Renal Unit for more details. Also, look up the Facebook page Transplant Support Group (Malta) for more information.