Chris Jones' Story

Chris was diagnosed at 16 with poly-cystic kidneys, a genetic renal disease that leads to kidney failure. Eight years ago, he started dialysis. After three months of dialysis in hospital, Chris learnt how to do it himself at home, three times per week for four hours. Eventually he switched to nocturnal dialysis every second night, while he slept.

Then, one Sunday afternoon in 2007, the hospital rang Chris to say that there was a kidney available for him. Just that day, he had commented to a friend that he was coping really well and feeling quite healthy, so he was stunned. He nearly said no because, apart from feeling well, he was concerned about the toll that his recovery period would have on his family. At the time, Chris’ mum was in hospital suffering from complications arising from kidney and liver failure due to poly-cystic disease, requiring transplant of one kidney and the liver.

Chris rang his parents. Straight away his mother said he should accept the donation. His father, who is a medico, was more anxious. He rang a specialist to assess the potential risks. The specialist said that Chris should ask one question: “Is the kidney a good match?” Chris was told that, based on his regular “tissue-typing” test results, the kidney was indeed a very good match. So Chris said yes and a few hours later, he was in hospital awaiting surgery.

The doctors at the Royal Melbourne Hospital’s renal department said that the donated kidney took a while to come out of shock and to start working, so Chris needed a few more dialysis sessions. “That post-operative period was a very anxious time. I was very concerned that the whole procedure had been for nothing,” Chris says. “I was told that kidneys that take longer, last longer. Thankfully, in my case, it has proven to be true.”

After a few days in hospital Chris was at home for six weeks. Then he went back to work part-time. “One month later I was completely fine. It’s three years on and I have had a brilliant run with absolutely no problems at all,” he says.

Chris doesn’t know anything about the kidney donor. But he was able to write an anonymous letter to the donor’s family expressing his gratitude. The letter was passed on and he hopes that it helps the family cope with their grief.

Sadly, Chris’ mother passed away on the operating table during a 12-hour double kidney and liver transplant operation. She had a latent heart condition that rendered her too weak to survive the surgery. It gives Chris great solace knowing that before she died, she witnessed him make a full recovery.

Chris’ brother was diagnosed with poly-cystic kidneys at the same time as him, but commenced dialysis later. He remains on a waiting list for a kidney.