Aleisha had a kidney transplant

Aleisha
I wouldn't be here today if the family of my donor said no to donation.

My name is Aleisha and I was diagnosed at a young age with Alport syndrome, a genetic kidney disease. This type of disease also effects my hearing and eyesight, and I started wearing hearing aids by the time I was at pre-school.

I have always had a positive attitude with my Alports and did my best to look after my health. So, after 22 years of relatively good health, I started dialysis and 'obeyed by the book' my dialysis treatment (CAPD) for over 3 years.

I never really thought about transplantation while I was on dialysis, apart from having a mobile phone glued to my side 24 hours a day. I always focused on dialysis and the 'here and now'. It's what I needed to do to stay alive and that was keeping me centred!

Nothing can prepare you for when the phone rings at 10:30 at night, you're alone in bed on dialysis, and after answering you hear, 'Aleisha, would you like a kidney?'

Your chest tightens. It's like time suspends and after a while, you remember to breathe. 'Aleisha? Breathe, you're about to receive a gift of life!'

I am 33 now and am so thankful and happy for the years of being dialysis free!

I know it is hard for most people to understand what it feels like to be given life, and the easiest way I describe it is like this: I wouldn't be here today if the family of my donor said no to donation. I will be forever grateful and humbled to my unknown angel.

Aleisha

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Registering is easy and only takes one minute. All you need is your phone, Medicare card and one minute to register.

It doesn’t matter how old you are, your medical history, your lifestyle, what country you’re from or how healthy you are — you can still register as an organ and tissue donor.

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