80-year-old Nico shares his story of living with a transplanted kidney. Twenty-seven years ago, he received a kidney from his wife after his health had steadily declined due to the disease of Berger. His kidney function dropped rapidly to around 5%, and despite dialysis, it became clear that without a transplant, his situation was life-threatening.
At the time, kidney donation was mainly possible through deceased donors or blood-related family members. As no suitable donor was available within his family, his prospects were bleak. That changed when his wife learned that living donation from non-blood relatives had become possible. Without hesitation, she decided to donate her kidney, giving him a second chance at life. Since the transplant, Nico has been able to rebuild his life in ways he once thought lost forever. He returned to sport, developed a passion for golf, and over the years has seen his family grow significantly, now enjoying life with nine grandchildren
This story is part of the European Transplant Games’ campaign series “Stories Beyond Life”. Created by: Studio Dokter de Graaf.
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