Obese husband's kidney op offer

[okarol]

Obese husband's kidney op offer

Nov. 16, 2007

A 23 stone, Andover man was told to lose 10 stone - to be able to donate a kidney to his wife.

Howard Golding, from Longstock Close, had wanted to lose weight.

But when his wife suffered kidney failure last year and was told she would need a transplant it was the kick-start he needed to shed the pounds.

Sherry was rushed to hospital in June 2006 after suffering an aortic dissection - a tube carrying blood around her body split in two leaving only half of her body being given enough blood.

Doctors managed to repair the tube but as a result of chilling her body for the operation both her kidneys, initially, failed.

Later one of her kidneys began working but not to full strength and Sherry now needs a kidney transplant to lead a normal life again.

Howard, aged 42, explained: "I thought if there was one thing I could do for my wife it was give her my kidney."

He began an intensive diet to lose weight - a necessity before any kidney donor operation he was told - and today weighs about 18 stone.

But tragically Howard has now been told his kidney isn't the right match for Sherry although he still plans to donate a kidney.

"Sherry really is my inspiration and it was gutting to find out I couldn't give her my kidney but because of her I'm still going ahead with the plan," he said. "When I was at my biggest I was morbidly obese and at the moment I'm just obese," he said.

"But I'm determined to lose the weight so I can give my kidney to someone who needs it.

"It's the drive I need to keep focused on losing weight and getting healthy."

To become a kidney donor Howard needs to weigh just under 13 stone.

Sherry, aged 43, who has been married to Howard for nearly 22 years, is now on the NHS waiting list for a kidney transplant.

"I'm so proud of Howard," she said. "I was overwhelmed by him wanting to do this for me," she added.

Howard has been following the Lighterlife diet and meets regularly with other men wanting to lose weight.

"The classes have been brilliant and they have given me and Sherry so much support," he added.

8:31am today

By Lydia Tipple

http://www.thisishampshire.net/news/hampshirenews/display.var.1834573.0.obese_husbands_kidney_op_offer.php

PHOTO: Overwhelmed: Sherry and husband Howard, hold the T-shirt he wore before losing weight.

[goofynina]

Good for him for losing that weight, i am just sorry that it took his wife's kidney failure to motivate him, but better late than never i guess,  i hope and pray that he is able to reach his goal and donate his kidney to someone who needs it.   

[Chris]

Anyone know the weight conversion to pounds or kilograms?. I never heard of a weight for a person described as in stones.Just looking at the topic, I was thinking kidney stones, not weight.

[angela515]

The stone is a unit of weight and mass. It is part of the Imperial system of weights and measures used in the British Isles, and formerly used in most Commonwealth countries. It is equal to 14 pounds avoirdupois, and to 6.35029318 kg.

Eight stone make a hundredweight in the Imperial system.

The plural form of stone is correctly stone, though stones is sometimes used, not usually by natives of the British Isles. The abbreviation is st.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_(weight)

[goofynina]

Thank you Angela,    isnt it amazing how other people's systems are in weights and measures,  great info, thanks again 

[Chris]

Thanks Angela,
So he needs to be 182 or lower, so that puts him at about the height of 5'11" going by our system, well blue cross blue shield at one time.