What is the longest a recipient has survived with a kidney transplant?

[Fran Unger]

It is really inspiring to read all of the success stories of patients who had a kidney transplant. It is encouraging to see so many people live long and healthy lives after receiving a transplant. It is nice to read the stories behind the transplants too.


EDITED: Fixed link error - okarol/admin

[jersey girl]

I am having a kidney transplant in 2 weeks.  My husband and I are part of a swap in the Philadelphia area.  I love reading these stories.  This thread has really been an inspiration!

[okarol]

It is really inspiring to read all of the success stories of patients who had a kidney transplant. It is encouraging to see so many people live long and healthy lives after receiving a transplant. It is nice to read the stories behind the transplants too.

Hey Fran, please go to the introduce yourself section and tell us something about yourself. Posting urls to Indiana University Health in your posts is advertising, and doesn't really help someone outside Indiana.

okarol/admin

[okarol]

FORTY years ago, Diane Schulze barely made it through her wedding day without collapsing. She married and was transplanted in 1971 - [July 2011] http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=23601.0

[okarol]

The 50th anniversary for Canada’s longest surviving single kidney transplant recipient is one for the record books.
On Dec. 28, 1960, 12-year-old Lana Nightingale (Blatz) donated her kidney to her identical twin sister Johanna Nightingale (Rempel). [Jan 2011] http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=23615.0

[okarol]

hi,
luv reading all the stories. I'm celebrating the 35th anniversary of my 2nd cadaver transplant today. Operation carried out in 1974 at cambridge, england when I was 17. I had previously had a kidney from my Dad in October 1970 whici rejected in 1974.

I got a note from Andy today:

Just to update you. I was first diagnosed with haemolytic uraemic syndrome in July 1969 aged 12. Its just a few weeks I went on haemodialysis. I had my first kidney transplant in Adenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, England on 1st November 1970. Professor Roy Calne carried out the operation which was a live donor with my Dad giving the kidney.
This lasted until July 1974 when it was removed in Cambridge and I went back on dialysis and the waiting list. On 8th November 1974 I received my current kidney in Adenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge. On the 10th day it started to work and I still have very good renal function. This coming November will be my 37th anniversary.

My current kidney was from a cadaver - I know it was a young male from Cardiff, Wales. I've tracked down most of my old medical records including those from 1969 and one day might put pen to paper.... In England there is no usual requirement to keep records after 7 years so really lucky to find them. Unfortunately I cant obtain my records from 1979 - 1993 whilst I was looked after by the Transplant Unit at Guy's Hospital, London. They destroyed the records!! In England there is no requirement to keep them after 7 years. Crazy!

all the best and keep up the good work.

andy demaine

[okarol]

John Trippe was on dialysis in 1980, at 26 years old. His five siblings were tested to see whether any would be a good match as a donor. The best match was his younger brother Jerry, then just 16. They just celebrated 30 years. [Dec. 2011] http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=25328.0

[okarol]

Harry Greiner has been healthy with a donated kidney for 40 years — making Greiner one of the longest kidney transplant survivors in the United States. At age 20, his uncle, Les, donated a kidney so Greiner could undergo a potentially life-saving transplant. [Jan. 2012]
http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=25676.0

[MaryD]

In the local renal unit just after Christmas I was chatting to a 69 year old man whose transplant was just failing after 39 years.  He had decided he probably wouldn't get another one. He was just starting HD again.

[okarol]

Steve Brock, 57, was one of the first people in the UK to have what was then a pioneering transplant at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. He was diagnosed with kidney failure when he was 17 and after a short period of dialysis was given a transplant. 1972 [Mar. 2012] http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=26024.0

[okarol]

Brother & sister celebrate kidney transplant of 25 years - John Arriola says giving one of his kidneys to his sister Maria Grijalva in April of 1987 was one of the best decisions he's ever made. http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=26285.0

[dkay42]

This was a very interesting, delightful post. My husband just lost his 24-year-old cadaver transplant. He is 51. His kidney is 60. Must mention that he told me this past week, that now on daily dialysis (training for home), he feels better than he has felt in years. He says he's not sure he wants another transplant. I say, "we'll see."

[Clara]

These stories are truly inspiring.  I am doing the work up to go on the list for Kidney-Pancreas transplant.  Thanks everyone for sharing 

[natnnnat]

This was a very interesting, delightful post. My husband just lost his 24-year-old cadaver transplant. He is 51. His kidney is 60. Must mention that he told me this past week, that now on daily dialysis (training for home), he feels better than he has felt in years. He says he's not sure he wants another transplant. I say, "we'll see."

Oh!  My hustand's 20 year old cadaver transplant is failing at the moment; he is 45.  I hope that we find he feels really well, when he finally goes back on dialysis.  I know its not the case for some but you can always hope.  I'm glad I saw your post. 

[okarol]

‎30 years ago Lorraine Campbell was given a kidney by her sister Denise Boyd. [1982] ‎http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=27321.0

[okarol]

 
Woman marks her 33rd year as a kidney transplant recipient
When she was 18 years old, Joan Waddell got kidney dialysis for the next year and a half. Back in 1974, Waddell�s brother, Daniel White donated a kidney to her. [2007] http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=27325.msg436974#msg436974

[okarol]

83-year-old Clark Beck will celebrate the 40th anniversary of his kidney transplant on Oct. 29 (from deceased donor) [Oct. 2012] http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=27729.0

[DialysisGoneFOREVER]

Great stories! So the longest surviving kidney transplant is 45 years from the lady who got it from her father at 13?

I don't consider identical twin transplants to be in the same league as us since they have a lot more compatability than the rest of us.

[okarol]

63-year-old Neil Tubb celebrates a hearty kidney 30 years later (deceased donor) - [Jan. 2013] http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=28271.0

[Lexxtech18]

This is amazing to read! At the pediatric clinic I used to go to, one of the nephrologists had a tx from her father when she was a teen and it lasted until she was in her 40s, I believe. What's more is her brother also had a tx from their mother around the same time. This is all what I heard through another clinic patient. The neph didn't like too many people to know, I guess she thought it made her look weak in the medical field. I found it quite inspirational.

[okarol]

Julie O’Neill (nee Sammon, Erriff) received a kidney transplant (she was 30) from her brother Padraic Sammon (he was 19) 30 years ago [Jan. 2013]  http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=28387.0

[okarol]

On Feb. 3, 1983, after 14 months on dialysis, Walt Erwin received a kidney from his older brother, Frank. [Feb. 2013] http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=28386.0

[okarol]

42 years ago a Eloy Romero gave his brother Fred a kidney. 1970 [Mar. 2013] http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=28713.0

[okarol]

FOR the last 35 years, Valerie Coombe has been living life to the full – thanks to a kidney transplant.
The 77-year-old got a new kidney on June 7, 1978.
http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=29148.0

[okarol]

Fifty+ years after kidney transplant, Nightingale twins still healthy - Johanna Rempel received a kidney from identical twin Lana Blatz when they were 12 years old. [June 2011]
http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=29311.0