Autumn 2021 Issue 14 Aari, our three-year-old toddler gave the gift of life Skin Deep: skin cancer after a transplant Diagnosis, treatment and how to lower your risk Doctor on dialysis Dr Douglas Lee: managing a busy life as a cardiologist with home haemodialysis 3 In this Autumn issue Welcome to Message Kidney Matters from the Features editor A life-line: whole-organ pancreas Welcome to the autumn issue of Kidney Matters. 8 transplantation Page Whilst there is no escaping the fact that we have Interview with Professor Peter Friend on 22 to continue to deal with uncertainty surrounding the benefits of whole-organ pancreas Covid-19 and whether vaccines have protected us transplantation for people with difficult to sufficiently, we do seem to be a pretty tough lot. control diabetes Judging from the amazing letters and emails we receive here at Kidney Matters, we still appear to be Nine-year-old Joshua meets his Food, glorious food living the best life we can. 12 donor police officer One thing is for certain, despite this uncertainty, Northern Ireland Police Inspector Graham there are uplifting stories of great kindness and acts Homemade fish and chips with Dodds and nine-year old Joshua take a tour of heroism all around us. of the police station just 8 weeks after their 20 mushy peas You will love to read superhero, Teddy’s story, the living-donor surgery A healthier twist on traditional fish and chips served with mushy peas Hi all, toddler who decided to raise funds for Kidney Care UK to help his baby brother, and will not fail to be Aari, our three-year-old toddler As I sit to write these words, the sun is shining, 16 moved by the events behind the face of our beautiful gave the gift of life its nearly 30 degrees and the talk is of ‘Freedom cover star, Aari, who, without even knowing it, went The tragic loss of one family saves the lives Day’ - what could be better. But as we in the kidney on to save the lives of two other children. of two children community know, it’s not freedom day for everyone! Of course, not all heroes are children. As two of our Whilst the rest of the country seems preoccupied longest-serving Advocacy Officers retire, we learn Doctor on dialysis with flocking to the beach and the media argues about the many ways in which these two went way 30 Managing a busy life as a cardiologist with with politicians over the suitability of Covid above and beyond to help the hundreds of kidney home haemodialysis passports, many kidney patients and their families patients who turned to them for help, over their feel left behind. As we all know, it’s all very well years with us. talking about exercising personal responsibility, but how do you decide, when you don’t have the We also get an insight into what it really takes to Medical information about your level of protection? balance life as a busy hospital cardiologist with kidney disease and the need for dialysis, and find At Kidney Care UK we will not let this matter drop. out how a young woman, facing an avalanche of grim Skin deep: skin cancer after a We continue to campaign to raise awareness of the 24 diagnoses, went on to find happiness, humour and transplant concerns of patients and will continue to write to Diagnosis, treatment and how to lower peace in her life. politicians and journalists as well as employers, to your risk ensure their worries and anxieties are not ignored. We hope you enjoy the read. Page In fact, our latest media campaign, working with Cycling to a healthier heart 16 many other national charities, was covered by the 36 Cycling for 30 minutes during a leading newspapers and news radio stations. In all Deborah Duval haemodialysis session can help promote this my one consolation is the knowledge that the heart health community is full of fighters that simply don’t give up. On your side Who’s who Editor...............................................Deborah Duval Please stay safe, The UK Living Kidney Sharing Deputy Editor............................................Sue Lyon 14 Scheme Deputy Editor... .................................Sumaya Masood Increasing the chances of finding a good Designer ...............idmedia (contact [email protected]) match Kidney Kitchen photos . .Beth Druce www.bethdruce.com Paul Bristow, Page Printing, packing & posting..........www.pollardsprint.co.uk 24 Our commitment to challenging Chief Executive, Kidney Care UK 28 health inequalities Get in touch How is Kidney Care UK engaging with Visit: www.kidneycareuk.org E: [email protected] marginalised communities? ©Kidney Care UK 2021 is the operating name of the British Kidney Call us on: 01420 541424 Patient Association. A charitable company limited by guarantee. Kidney Care UK, 3 The Windmills, St Mary’s Close, Registered in England and Wales (1228114). A charity registered Turk Street, Alton, GU34 1EF in England and Wales (270288), and Scotland (SCO48198). Kidney Kitchen is a registered trademark of the British Kidney Patient Association. Issue 14 | Autumn 2021 4 5 small grants to pay for bills or fuel costs, or support Modern-day heroes: two of our through tribunals and conflict resolution, to name a Gilad Jackman, a long-term few of the varied aspects of the role. dialysis patient was helped by Kate has a wealth of knowledge and has worked within Kate. He was only too happy to incredible Advocacy Officers healthcare for almost 40 years. In her experience, CKD is the most challenging condition to deal with. Kate has be offered the opportunity to say aided patients in poverty, homelessness and marriage thank you. retire from the service breakdowns. Transport for haemodialysis patients I have been on dialysis for over 30 years and remains another obstacle that she often sees. have known Kate Cresswell for well over eight Transport delays mean that patients are connected to years. She came in like an angel on a whisper dialysis late and sessions may be shortened. Our team of Advocacy Officers are our front line; they are the trained professionals, of a wind to assist and guide me and my wife often patients themselves, who support, guide and reassure us when our own journey Kate often sees patients with kidney disease suffering through a number of difficult renal-related from hardship. She says, “This job has changed me. problems that required an official, patient and through chronic kidney disease (CKD) is not going according to plan or we need We are not an emergency service but often we are the authoritative guiding hand. someone to speak up on our behalf. We say goodbye and thank you to Kate Cresswell last chance saloon.” Around five years ago we had further need and Rob Finnigan. Advocacy Officers are often faced with tough of her expert assistance with an unresolved situations. Kate says, “The toughest part is when you issue. Kate took the reins and offered her top are doing your best to help someone, sticking your advocacy skills, never wavering once to obtain found on his right kidney. This kidney was removed and, Kate Creswell has been an Advocacy head above the parapet. But the work is not always the best outcome she could for me and to because the remaining left kidney was not functioning respected.” reach out to us and to guide us through. Officer covering the South West,for well, he had to start dialysis. nine years. She chose to be an “We do not do this for gratitude, we do it because we I cannot even begin to imagine how my wife Seeing the impact this had on his life, Kate took early believe in what we are doing.” and I would have coped without her dogged Advocacy Officer after her father retirement and her parents moved in with her and capacity to make us feel considered at all her family. In 2012, Kate saw an advertisement for an The role also has its benefits. Kate recalls, “Even the was diagnosed with CKD and needed times. Her help made that difference at times Advocacy Officer. She took the chance, applied for the smallest grant is life-changing for some people, and dialysis. of immense struggle. role, and started her journey supporting kidney patients. being able to help them is the best feeling; success at Kate’s father was a long-term cardiovascular patient. Department of Work and Pensions tribunals is always In Kate we trust. The role of an Advocacy officer varies, but at its He had lived a fairly normal life, but his journey as a very rewarding!” heart is supporting patients. This may be by helping kidney patient started when a malignant tumour was complete application forms for benefits, enabling Kate’s wealth of knowledge and experience will be greatly missed amongst colleagues at Kidney Care UK. Kate says she will miss the interaction with kidney patients and their families the most but feels she is ready to retire. Kate says, “I am ready to go, I look forward to gardening “This job has changed me. and travelling. I am part of a book club so I will have more time for reading, and of course my two dogs will We are not an emergency benefit from longer walks when I’m not working. My son’s fiancée is from India so a trip to India may be service but often we are the planned in the future to meet her family. I may also take on a voluntary role locally.” last chance saloon.“ Message from Paul Bristow - Chief Executive, Kidney Care UK Patients and health professionals in the North West and South West of England will be familiar with Rob and Kate, who have been supporting patients and their families for many years.