Kidney Foundation

Kimberley’s Story

That kidney gave my father and our family close to 13 years of extended life before it started to fail on him.

I would like to tell you about my father, Joseph, and his battle with kidney disease. My name is Kimberly and I hope my father’s story can help bring awareness to kidney disease and organ donation.

My father had many health issues throughout his life; unfortunately, kidney disease was one of them. I would like to share how the disease touched him and the effects it had on his family. He passed away on May 5, 2016 due to kidney failure. He was 60 years old and lived his entire life in Petit de Grat, Nova Scotia.

My father had lower back pain for several years in which he sought medical attention. After doing numerous tests including seeing a specialist, they finally found the problem - he had kidney failure. He was shocked to learn his kidney was functioning at a very low percentage. The doctor decided that dialysis was the best option for him. While on dialysis he was put on the kidney transplant list. This was devastating to our family.

The waiting game began for him and our family during the early 2000’s. His dialysis was multiple days a week for roughly a year. He found it to be a painful process and very tiring. Not just the dialysis itself but the travel time to and from Petit de Grat to Sydney which is about an hour and a half drives each way. We hoped and prayed each day that went by that he would get a call saying a kidney was found for him. It would prevent him from daily activities like hunting and fishing, walks and time with family. Because of dialysis, prevented him from traveling.

Our prayers were answered; he got a call that he would be getting a perfectly matched kidney. Luckily, he was deemed fit to undergo the transplant surgery. Our family’s fear of losing our father started to pass. The gratitude we have to the organ donor cannot be expressed in words. This act of kindness will always be remembered by our family. My family and I are forever grateful that he received a second chance at life. Finally, he no longer needed dialysis and the transplant was a success. That kidney gave my father and our family close to 13 years of extended life before it started fail on him.

The news of the failure was a very sad time for all of us. We knew what was going to happen as we went through it before. My dad decided he wasn't going to go through dialysis again. It was a difficult decision for the family to hear but we knew our dad was the one enduring all this pain. We supported his decision.

What I have learned through my father’s life story is you know your body best, if something doesn’t feel right go to the doctors. Don’t wait. Also help others when and how you can. Simple things that made a positive impact on my father’s daily life was the little things such as a smile or kind word, friends who stopped in for a visit, the support of his family and his community.

When he passed away we were heartbroken. We lost such a wonderful man in our lives but we were fortunate to have had the extra time and wonderful memories.

When we learned of the new kidneys failure I knew that when I turned of age I would become an organ donor. Anyone who can help extend and elevate pain someone life, as my father’s life was, is someone I wanted to be. Being able to give a second chance to someone is one of life’s greatest blessings. I wanted to give another family precious time with their loved ones.

I registered through my Nova Scotia health card as a donor. I am very proud to say that. I would like to express the importance of becoming an organ donor and what it means to families just like mine. I am proud to think that when I leave this world I may be able to help someone, perhaps even save their life. I hope after reading this you will feel the same way I did and take time to educate yourself on how to become an organ donor.