The Thomas family and friends celebrated 25 years of a kidney transplant. This gift of life was given by Stephan Thomas to his older sister Kathrin in 1991. At the time, she was 29 and training as a doctor. This was tough enough without also managing dialysis while she waited for a kidney. She had developed kidney failure a couple of years earlier. The wait was likely to be a long one until all family stepped in and volunteered to donate a living kidney to Kathrin. After tests, it was found that Stephan was the best match. He was 27 and engaged to be married to his fiancée. They were living and working in Paris, and Stephan had to travel back several times in the preparation for the operation but took it all in his stride.
The operation in late 1991 was very straightforward, Kathrin recalls. Stephan was in hospital for a few days and returned to work a couple of weeks later. He says “It was quite painful as I had to have a rib removed to get at the kidney, but I got over it quite quickly and I have had no health problems since. My girlfriend, who is now my wife, supported my decision. We have gone on to set up our own successful business and we have three children. The doctors told me that the risks of having only one kidney are very small, as it would be very bad luck to suffer any injury to the remaining kidney”. One kidney is more than enough for a full and healthy life, and any kidney disease would destroy two kidneys just as quickly as one.
Kathrin was able to complete her medical training and has just completed 30 years of service to the NHS. She says “I know that I wouldn’t have been able to do this without my brother’s generosity. I’m also grateful to the support and care from the NHS that’s helped me to stay completely well for all this time. I’m glad that I’ve been able to give something back”
The family held a party to celebrate 25 years of the successful transplant with friends. Kathrin and Stephan’s brother Nicholas supplied an anatomically correct chocolate cake in the shape of a kidney which was enjoyed by the large family and their friends.