Our daughter Jo-anne was diagnosed with Chronic nephritis at the tender age of four, with her first biopsy the day after her fourth birthday. As parents the emotions were very high and we did all we could to find out about her illness as we wanted her to live a normal life, for at that time she was not a candidate for a transplant and it was not encouraging for the future. The first signs we noticed was when she woke up she looked like a little china doll, eyes slanted and face a little swollen.

Over the years we have had many a moment with rushed trips to hospital, I feel as though I own part of the RHH as we seemed to be a constant customer. They were a constant source of help, support and of course benefit to our daughter.

We had another daughter Susan, she was perfectly healthy in every way and it was difficult at times to try and explain to her why Jo-anne seemed to be getting all the attention although we explained it was an illness, the comprehension of a younger sister may have thought she was being left out but she was not as we tried to treat them equally.  I had friends who kept saying you are too hard on Jo-anne but trying to explain that we did not want her to grow up being spoilt and that we had two children who we felt should be treated equal and we loved them like that.

Over the years Jo grew as most children do but because of her illness she did not get the height levels of other children and remained small in statue. Over this time Jo was a happy normal child growing into a teenager, her only restrictions were that she got tired easily and sport was very hard for her physically.

Just after her fifteenth birthday we had a call from her doctor to say that she would need a transplant around October that year and he explained the options we had. We talked about them and decided to both be tested for becoming a donor. After being tested I was the one chosen to be the most compatible for Jo-anne and then it was all go. It was suggested by the doctor who was marvelous (Dr Nick Oliver) that I transfuse my blood into Jo over a period of six weeks which we did through the Red Cross. This was to give Jo some of my antibodies to assist her in accepting the kidney. The doctor arranged with the Royal Melbourne Hospital to have the transplant take place on 4th October 1984 and we were prepared to be there the day before to be ready and be assessed for the operation.

We arrived at the hospital, were introduced to the team and things started moving very quickly from there. The operation was a long procedure and we both got through it. I went to see Jo the next morning after we had a recovery time and the change in her was unreal as she was sitting up in bed and wanting to go out to get something to eat. She said she wanted some of the things that she could not eat before. Unfortunately she could not leave the hospital just yet as she needed to recover a bit more. After six days she was released and the energy in her was amazing she had become a normal teenager.

I, on the other hand was still sore from the operation and we needed to stay in Melbourne for another six weeks for Jo's kidney to be checked for rejection.

All went well and we came back to the rest of our family, what a great day.

After giving the kidney which I must say I would have done for anyone as I fee if you can help others why not? At the age of 66 years I am still fit, healthy, worked in difficult jobs and have never had any problems from donating a kidney. I have a full life still working, volunteering in the community and play sport.

Jo-anne has had her kidney for nearly 30 years and we celebrate her kidney birthday with a cake each year. It is her kidney and each year is a bonus and if more people would part with one of their kidneys, the saving of life would be great. Jo is doing all the things a normal healthy person does, she works, plays sport, goes out dining and clubbing and we are proud that all through the ups and downs of life she has kept a smile on the dial and kept looking after herself and is happy.

Life deals us all with times we feel we cannot handle but with good family, friends, a happy disposition and faith we well all get through, and we have. It has been difficult many times. Loss of Jos father within one year of the transplant was one of the toughest test Jo-anne, her sister Susan and I have had to face, but we pulled together and now thirty years on.

If any of you out there wish to contact me please do, as I can assist you in making a decision to donate a live kidney, I will be there for you as there was not any organisations to speak to when I donated.

Do I regret giving a kidney - No Way! I would do it again - Give a kidney to help others.