
Dave’s gone on to have another child
After Spencer was confirmed as a match, it took another 18 months before the transplant could take place. In July 2010, they suffered a setback when Dave had pneumonia.
Spencer says: “Although Dave wasn’t fit enough to undergo the surgery, they gave us another four months to prepare. Then, in November 2010, we were told we’d passed the tests and had the transplant booked for 20 days later.”
“I remember waking up in the recovery room and Dave was opposite. We both woke up at the same time and gave a thumbs up. I could see the colour in his face and his eyes. He’d gone from being yellow to being pink. It was an instant change, it was amazing.”
“We’re both fit and well. Dave’s gone on to have another child, Ava, who is eight this year which always gets me a bit emotional. He got married two years ago and I was best man. The tests, the staff, the operation, the aftercare and living with one kidney has been easy. I go for an annual check-up, but I’ve had no complications at all. We don’t really need two kidneys.”
“If I could do it again, I would. If it didn’t come from me, I don’t know how long Dave would’ve had to wait on the transplant register. Would he have got one in time? I didn’t want to lose my mate. I want him around for a long time. I dread the day if anything starts to go wrong because I can’t help him anymore.”
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- Source: https://www.kidneyresearchuk.org/2024/04/08/i-donated-a-kidney-to-my-best-mate-now-im-running-the-london-marathon/