Atika, from Rushey Mead, began feeling unwell about four years ago. She said: “I felt unwell and my joints were swollen and sore. Two weeks after seeing a doctor tests showed my kidney function was quite low and I was told I had chronic kidney disease. It was a huge shock. I was immediately put on medication which eased the symptoms. But one of the problems was that this included steroids and my face started getting bigger and I was putting on weight.”
Atika’s kidneys were failing so badly she had to start dialysis. At first, this was peritoneal dialysis which she was able to do at home, but following an infection she had to change to hemodialysis which has to be administered in hospital.
At the end of May, Atika had a kidney transplant under an “exchange” scheme, whereby her mother donated one of her kidneys to a patient and in return Atika received a kidney from another donor. Now Atika has no idea when she might be able to have another kidney transplant.
In Leicestershire, there are currently about 450 patients on dialysis.
Anyone considering being a live donor should call the transplant co-ordinator at Leicester’s hospitals on 0300 303 1573.
