Man receives life-saving kidney donation from his best friend

By Elizabeth Hunter

A man had his life saved by his best friend and best man - who gave him his kidney.

James Walker's organs were gradually losing their function and so were donated by their pal Keith, a GP.

Keith from Ayr, Scotland, was his best man at his wedding and is the godfather to his daughter, 34.

Dad-of-two James was in London in 2020 to celebrate the birth of his granddaughter but got into trouble with his heart and required a triple heart bypass.

Between that and the COVID-19 lockdown, James was stuck in London for the next six months.

It was during these months that doctors started to flag that his kidneys were struggling further.

Keith said: “Don’t worry, I’ll keep my kidney in my back pocket for you if you ever need it.”

At Christmas 2023, Keith then stuck to his word. He gave James the ultimate Christmas gift by saying that he would get tested to see if he was a match.

Between then and receiving his transplant, James gradually felt himself become more and more tired. He said:

“I was always freezing at home. I’d have the heating on plus two jumpers.

"I’d have a nap mid-morning because I was tired then I didn’t have the energy or enthusiasm to go anywhere in the afternoon. And I was still sleeping through at night.

"I didn’t know what normal felt like anymore.”

Keith donated his kidney in Belfast, and it was flown over here for James.

However, it wasn’t all plain sailing, James explained:

“It had been clear skies in Belfast in the morning but when my kidney was on its way, it got grounded at the airport due to fog. We were all so nervous at the hospital that it wouldn’t make it. Finally, it arrived.

“I was out of surgery at midnight."

When asked when he started to feel back to his, ‘normal self’, he responded, ‘When I woke on the morning of the 13th’.

"By the time I woke up the next morning, I was in pain but felt amazing overall," he said.

"I couldn’t believe how warm I was instantly, and my energy levels were up. It was an instant uplift.

“My kidneys went from a level of 12, to 20, then up and up quickly. The level is now at 78. I don’t think I was ever up that high, so Keith’s kidney is better than what I originally had!”

Keith is a GP and runs in triathlons. He has recovered well and is now competing again.

James is back down in London to welcome the birth of his daughter’s third little one – this time in much more positive circumstances.

“My son also has two little girls, so we’ll soon be the grandparents of five girls under five. I’m delighted to be here for that!

“I’m still having trouble with my heart. I get breathless very easy.

"The doctors couldn’t give me the medication I needed as my kidneys wouldn’t have been able to handle it, but now we’re hopeful that this will change due to my kidney function being so good.”

James knows he has challenges ahead but for now, is incredibly grateful to everyone involved in his kidney transplant and care. James said:

“I am so thankful to Keith for the best gift anyone could receive.

“My wife Sharon always said that she never wanted to be a nurse, yet she has always been right by my side looking after me while caring for our family too. I’d be nowhere without her. She is remarkable.

“The staff at the Queen Elizabeth deserve a huge thanks too. They’ve been so kind and good to me. If I had to pick a fault in them is that they over-cared for me! They couldn’t do enough to help.”

James is one of 5,000 people who have received a kidney transplant from the West of Scotland Transplant Service.

The service, who are based at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, celebrated the milestone on World Kidney Day yesterday (13 March).

Julie Glen, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Team Lead and Living Donor Transplant Coordinator for the West of Scotland Transplant Service said:

“James is a character, and we always enjoy his company when he comes into the hospital, so it is great to hear that he is doing so well and has good times ahead with his family.

"He is a great example of just how important kidney donation is.

“Our service surpassing 5000 kidney transplants is remarkable. Kidneys can come from living donors like Keith or from people who have passed away.

"To have achieved this great number we have to thank every living donor and every donor family who made the brave decision to allow their loved one to become a donor.

“If people are reading this story and thinking that they would like to help those in need of a kidney transplant, please follow the link below.

"You don’t need to know someone directly; you can donate a kidney altruistically through the UK Living Donor Kidney Sharing Scheme where up to three recipients can benefit from one donation.”