Barbara and Christine – Growing older in friendship and shared good health.

Barbara and Christine – Growing older in friendship and shared good health. Growing older in friendship and shared good health. Christine Ashton and Barbara Hodgson are the best of friends. They are not related but they feel like sisters. And that is because Christine donated one of her kidneys to Barbara 17 years ago. They…

John’s kidneys are 40 times the size of normal kidneys and ech weigh 9kg. John’s kidneys are 40 times the size of normal kidneys and ech weigh 9kg. John suffers with polycystic kidney disease (PKD) meaning that his kidneys are 40 times the normal size and each weigh 9kg. As a result, he has only 10%…

Matthew’s story – finding a hero Matthew finds his hero A little boy, born with congenital nephrotic syndrome, who has been waiting his whole life to find a suitable match for a kidney transplant has finally been given his wish. Matthew Pietrzyk from Glenfield in Leicestershire, who featured in our BBC Lifeline Appeal in 2015,…

Russell’s story – surviving kidney cancer, thanks to an emergency lifesaving operation. Russell Jones survived kidney cancer, thanks to an emergency lifesaving operation. Every hour, someone is diagnosed with kidney cancer. It can happen to anyone. Russell Jones was 40 and fit and healthy when he found out about the tumour on his kidney. He…

Dale’s story Funding research to help people like Dale Dale Robinson was 22 when kidney disease changed his life forever. He was beginning to live the life of his dreams, achieving his ambitions, working all over the world, when he suddenly became very ill. Dale has IgA nephropathy. It’s a life-threatening kidney disease that turns…

Jenny and David’s story David was dianosed with a rare form of form of kidney disease, called Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis. Jenny Griffiths, from Caldicot in Gwent, and her committee of friends have dedicated 10 years to raising funds for Kidney Research UK since her son David had a transplant in 2006. David was 18 when tests…

Kola’s Story Kola lives a normal life today thanks to kidney transplants. Cardiff resident Kola Ponnle can live a normal life today thanks to the ‘selfless’ actions of his father, brother and an anonymous kidney donor. But he believes organ donation can do more than save lives – it also has the potential to bring…

Derek’s story In 2012 Derek’s kidneys suddenly failed and turned his retirement into a rigid regime of haemodialysis. Kent resident Derek King had always enjoyed good health but in late December 2012 his kidneys suddenly failed and turned his retirement into a rigid regime of haemodialysis. He now looks upon his treatment as a job…