Darren & Family and Friend's Fundraiser

Hi my name is Darren I am 55 years old and from Burton in Staffordshire. At an early age I was told I had the genetic disease called polycystic kidneys. This is where I have cyst on both kidneys which eventually means my Kidneys will fail. My mum had the same as me, my younger brother who sadly passed recently had it aswell.My middle age son and his young daughter also have this condition. So it is a family affair.

I first started having dialysis in 2004. I travelled to Derby Hospital 3 times a week and the staff there were amazing and accommodating.

In 2010 I had my first kidney transplant at Nottingham City Hospital. Things were good to start with however sadly the drugs that I was given to prevent my new kidney from failing lowered my immune system.

In June 2014 I ended up in Derby ICU with PCP pneumonia and I was put into an induce coma for 22 days. My life was in the balance and my wife tells me it came to the point where the doctors said she might have to turn my machine off. However I beat pneumonia and it took me around a year to get back to some normality. 

From August 2014 to the start of January 2021 I was on dialysis. I started of going to Derby Hospital 3 times a week for my treatment. Half way through my treatment around 2018 my youngest daughter said dad I will help you do your dialysis at home. After around 2 months of training i started my dialysis from home. My daughter's bedroom was turned into a little Hosptail and it gave me a bit more freedom. In 2019 my daughter started University and I went back to Derby Hospital to start treatment again. I was transferred to Lichfield in 2020 when covid hit and the treatment i got their was as good as Derby. 

Early January 2021 around 2.30am I got a phone call and it was Nottingham Hospital. I was told that they had a kidney for me and needed to get to the hospital straight away. I was in shock and tired but when I arrived to the Hospital it started to feel real. After test and I got the all clear around 4pm I went down for surgery. I stayed on carrel ward for 5 days and then I was discharged home.

I want to raise money for The carrel ward at Nottingham City Campus Hospital. I want to thank all the staff from nurse to doctors to surgeons. I also want to thank the person who donated their kidney and has given me a new leaf in life.