"Hi, my names Chardonnay and I would like to share my story.
I became severely unwell just before my 15th birthday, I was completely healthy up until then. I was then diagnosed with good pastures syndrome, a rare disorder that attacks the lungs and kidneys. I was lucky that it only attacked my kidneys, but it came as a massive shock that my whole life would be so different.
I was transferred from raigmore to Queen Elizabeth’s children hospital, where I stayed for 4 months, away from friends and family. It was my home away from home. They preoccupied me with crafts, games etc, it felt like I was a normal teenager. Until I would go outside and get nasty looks from people because I had steroid face and a feeding tube.
Anyway, 2 and a half years of dialysis, a blood transfusion and 10 plasma exchanges later, in August of 2020 I received a kidney from a deceased donor From then on I have lived a relatively normal life other than being in and out of hospital for infections and what not.
I am now almost 4 years post transplant, 20 years old and have twin girls who were born 10 weeks premature, and also am about to start studying childhood practice.
I can’t thank the renal team at Glasgow enough for everything they have done for me, especially Diane, Deepa, Dr Ramage and Ben, they were like my second family and I will never forget how much they made me laugh and smile, despite the circumstances."
