With shocking NHS data1 revealing nearly 7,000 people across the UK are on the kidney transplant list and six die every week whilst waiting, Angie Willman, 69, from Richmond is sharing her story of how she donated one of her kidneys to her husband.
This generous act saved him from a life on life-limited dialysis treatment – a process which removes waste from the blood when your kidneys are not able to. Angie hopes to inspire others to consider becoming a living kidney donor and raise awareness of the growing need for more people to consider donating.
Angie’s husband Brian had been living with kidney disease for many years before he was told he would need a kidney transplant. “He lives with an autoimmune condition which slowly but surely was damaging his kidneys over time. He was on dialysis, which kept him alive but really controlled what we could and couldn’t do in life,” she said.
The road to donation wasn’t without setbacks. Initial tests raised concerns about Angie’s own kidney health, and even after being cleared, turning 60 introduced a new wave of assessments. “It was a lot to take on, but I understood it was all about ensuring the best possible outcome – for me and for Brian.”
By the time they were given a transplant date, Brian’s condition had drastically declined – his kidney function had dropped to just 9%, and he was physically deteriorating. “He had become very pale,” Angie remembers. “He wasn’t eating properly, and he could barely hold a conversation because of how constantly exhausted he felt.”
A poll2 carried out as part of the Make Your Mark campaign, which aims to raise awareness of the need for more living kidney donors, revealed 55% of people in the UK would consider donating a kidney to a family member. If all these people were to come forward to donate as Angie did, they would not only save lives but also save the NHS money compared to keeping patients on expensive and life-limiting dialysis treatment, as shown in a report3 released by Kidney Research UK in 2023.
Almost immediately after the donation, the benefits were clear to see, she said: “The difference in Brian was immediately noticeable, it was uncanny. The kids were so happy to see the difference in him too. I’ve been able to see my husband return to his best self.”
Angie has also fully recovered from the surgery and says she doesn’t notice a difference in herself at all. She is now sharing her story to raise awareness of living kidney donation, particularly through the Robert Dangoor Partnership for Living Kidney Donation, which offers information, resources and one-to-one peer support to anyone considering becoming a donor.
Angie now volunteers as a Buddy as part of the UK Living Kidney Donation Buddy Support Service, offering support for others considering donating a kidney. “Kidney donation isn’t for everyone,” she said, “but for anyone even thinking about it, the support available through the buddy support service is incredible. I’m still healthy, my husband’s thriving, and we’ve got our life back. How could I not want to tell people about that?”
To learn more about living kidney donation and access free support, visit www.donateakidney.co.uk
