World Kidney Day: Kidney transplant ‘Completely transformed’ my life

There are over 6,000 people in the UK waiting for a kidney transplant, almost 90 of those in Northern Ireland.

Over 200 Kidney Donors from the UK Living Kidney Sharing Scheme have been from Northern Ireland.

It’s as More than 850 million people worldwide have some form of kidney disease.

This World Kidney Day, we've been hearing from someone who's life was changed - after discovering he needed a transplant.

This was during the peak of his career.

The International Hockey Coach and INST School Coach, Graeme Francey, spoke to us this World Kidney Day, to raise awareness following his kidney transplant in the summer of 2021.

Diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in 2007, Graeme Francey’s condition ultimately required a life-saving kidney transplant so his sister, Lynn Shanks, selflessly donated a kidney to give Graeme a new lease on life.

Graeme’s journey began when a routine GP visit detected high blood pressure, an unexpected finding for someone who considered himself extremely fit. Following blood tests, he was referred to the Ulster Hospital Renal Unit. “Within fifteen minutes of meeting Dr Smyth, I was told I would need a kidney transplant within a year. That was a huge shock,” he recalled.

“Being diagnosed was a huge shock to me. I had no idea I had Chronic Kidney Disease. My kidney function was only 16%. At that time, I was hoping to go full-time into hockey coaching and had been shortlisted for international coaching jobs. Then I met Dr Smyth, Consultant Nephrologist in the Ulster Hospital and that changed my life.”

On the day of the transplant, Graeme’s primary concern was for his sister. “I was more worried about Lynn than myself. I knew she was in good hands, and that was all that mattered to me,” he shared.

Now fully recovered, Graeme has returned to his passion for hockey coaching, feeling stronger and more energetic than before. “For anyone considering organ donation, they should know they are changing someone’s life. I have been very lucky,” he added.

To promote kidney health, Specialty Doctor at the Ulster Hospital, Dr Richard McCrory emphasises early detection. “The focus of World Kidney Day 2025 is ‘Are Your Kidneys Ok?’ Symptoms of CKD may not appear until it has significantly progressed. Routine tests, such as urine dipstick or blood monitoring, can identify findings that are the essential first step in diagnosing CKD, preventing complications and improving quality of life.”

Dr McCrory explained that a history of conditions like Hypertension, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease and Obesity increase the risk of developing CKD, but patients may develop CKD without any of these factors. “Managing your salt intake, your weight and blood pressure are key to reducing CKD risk and progression. The SGLT2 inhibitors, drugs originally designed to treat Diabetes, can significantly reduce the risk of CKD progression and the Ulster Hospital Renal Unit has played an active role in this research.”

He also highlighted the importance of smoking cessation, stating, “Smoking can accelerate CKD progression and we strongly encourage patients to quit.”

“Awareness and self- management are essential to reducing complications of kidney disease. People also need incentives at community, government and societal levels to support positive health behaviours.”

Graeme echoed this sentiment, encouraging those diagnosed with CKD to stay positive and take control of their health. “Focus on what you can control, diet, exercise and following medical advice. A transplant diagnosis is life-changing, but looking after your kidney health is vital.”

You can hear more about this story in our hourly bulletins: https://hellorayo.co.uk/cool-fm/