A MAN who was left gravely ill after his kidneys failed has told how his father saved his life by agreeing to donate one of his own organs.
Alastair Rennie, 29 from Cumbernauld, was saved when his father David stepped forward to offer up one of his own kidneys for transplant.
Mr Rennie Jnr, had no idea he was how serious his condition was until he visited his doctor with concerns about exhaustion, nausea and daily nosebleeds.
Following blood tests, Alastair was rushed to Monklands Hospital where he received a blood transfusion and was told that his kidneys had shut down. Within 24 hours, he was on dialysis and placed on the transplant list.
He said: “When my parents arrived at the hospital I had machines attached to my chest, a catheter fitted, a line inserted in my leg and equipment to help me breathe. I
" was told by a kidney specialist that my results were the worst he’d ever seen. My first dialysis went ahead at midnight just hours after I was admitted.
“The whole thing was a huge shock. When I was told I needed a transplant it was the strangest thing. It seemed like it took forever for someone to say something afterwards. At that point me and my family broke down, not able to take in what had happened."
Alastair was in hospital for around a week and then started on dialysis three times a week as an outpatient.
When he was listed for transplant, doctors talked to him about potential living donors and Alastair was overwhelmed by those who came forward to be tested, including his father David.
Alastair said: “There are days where what happened to me hits home. The whole experience has certainly brought us closer as a family. I’ll never be able to repay my dad for what he did. It’s the most amazing thing and I’m extremely proud of him.”
The former bank worker is hoping to compete in 2017 Westfield Health British Transplant Games when they come to North Lanarkshire in July.
He is backing a national campaign to raise awareness of living kidney donation by highlighting how his transplant in July 2016 transformed his health.
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