A mother from Reading will join Kidney Research UK’s London Bridges Walk this summer in memory of her husband who died earlier this year aged just 50, after a long battle against kidney and heart disease.
Caroline Prodger, 48, will join participants on Sunday 6 July, setting off from Vauxhall Park to pay tribute to her husband, Gareth.
Caroline said: “Gareth would be glad we are joining the walk in his memory. We hope to do something positive, by fundraising for research into kidney disease and raising awareness of its impact on people’s lives.”
Gareth had autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) – a genetic condition that causes fluid-filled cysts to develop in the kidneys. He inherited this from his father, who sadly passed away shortly before Caroline and Gareth got married in 2005. “It was a bittersweet occasion without him there,” said Caroline. “And now our son won’t have his father at his wedding either.”
Gareth’s condition was confirmed by a scan shortly after the pair met. Caroline said: “We held on to the thought that advances in medicine could bring better therapies, or even a cure, in his lifetime.”
The couple faced heartbreak in 2010 when they lost their baby daughter, but found new hope with the arrival of their son two years later. “He felt like a miracle to us,” Caroline said. “Gareth was so proud of him and threw himself into fatherhood. We knew Gareth’s kidneys were slowly deteriorating, but we were two peas in a pod and felt lucky to have found each other. We had careers we enjoyed, a beautiful family, and a home filled with love.”
Medication helped to slow the progress of his ADPKD, but by 2020 Gareth’s kidneys had failed. Cardiac issues often accompany kidney disease, and, in a devastating blow, he was also diagnosed with severe heart failure. The family suffered an agonising wait for a heart transplant, with their hopes also resting on the kidney transplant to be made possible through a donation from his brother Dafydd swiftly after that.
“Gareth had to begin peritoneal dialysis at home, first manually and then on a machine overnight. During this time, he needed hernia surgery and suffered a transient ischaemic attack (mini stroke). That was terrifying.”
In June 2024, Gareth received what should have been a life-saving heart transplant, but, despite working hard on rehab, he was not well enough for further surgery. In December 2024, he developed a serious infection, and he was admitted to xxxxxxxx hospital for the last time in early February. He sadly passed away, surrounded by his family, in March.
“We are still mired in the raw grief of being without Gareth,” said Caroline. “My son has lost his beloved dad at 13 years old, and I have lost my husband, co-parent, soulmate and best friend. He was super bright, funny and kind, and we’d been inseparable since we met almost 30 years ago. He is so dearly missed.”
“But it seems fitting to put one foot in front of the other to walk the London Bridges Walk in Gareth’s memory. I like to think he will be there walking alongside us. It will be a long road ahead before we feel a little more at peace, and it’s a case of taking one step at a time.”
Caroline and her family are keen to highlight the life-changing impact of organ donation and highlight the urgent need for more research into inherited and chronic kidney disease.
“Our family are eternally grateful for the chance of life given to us by Gareth’s heart donor, despite our eventual loss. By supporting research, we hope lives can be improved for people affected by kidney disease in the future.”
Lucy Sreeves, executive director of Kidney Research UK, said: “We are so grateful to have Caroline’s support after everything she and her family have been through. Gareth’s story is a powerful reminder of the urgent need for breakthroughs in kidney disease. We remain absolutely committed to driving research that prevents kidney disease, improves treatments, and gives families a better future. I hope many, many more will join Caroline in London on July 6th”.
The Kidney Research UK London Bridges Walk takes place on Sunday 6 July, starting at 10am. Participants can choose to embark on a 2-mile or a 8.5-mile route across the capital’s iconic bridges. Register now at www.kidneyresearchuk.org/fundraising-events/london-bridges-walk.
