Kerryn Grieve spent six years on dialysis before he received a life-changing kidney transplant earlier this year.
The Mackay father of three had been spending five hours at a time, three days a week at Mackay Base Hospital on haemodialysis after dialysing at home was no longer an option.
Kerryn was diagnosed with end stage kidney disease in 2018 which was secondary to his lupus diagnosis 10 years earlier.
“You are placed on the kidney transplant waitlist when you first start on dialysis,” Kerryn said.
“I started peritoneal dialysis in July 2018 so that I had freedom to continue working and do it at home. I became active on the transplant wait list in November 2024.”
On 7 February this year, Kerryn received a call from the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane which would change his life; he had progressed up to fourth on the transplant waitlist.
“At 1.30am on 10 February, I received a call that a kidney was available and was advised that the Mackay hospital would contact us with the flight details,” Kerryn said.
“I felt overwhelmed and excited about the news. We had a plan in place beforehand and I had been very open with work, so everyone knew we were waiting for that call at any moment.
“From 1.30am we were organising the kids and dropping them to their nan’s house. We were then at the airport at 5.30am for the 6am flight.”
Kerryn’s kidney transplant took place that same day. He was incredibly grateful for the lifesaving operation and new kidney, but it wasn’t easy recovering from major surgery so far from home.
“It was very difficult to be away from the kids and family for six weeks,” Kerryn said.
“My wife was able to be with me in Brisbane for three weeks and then returned home to be with the kids because it was the first time we had spent more than four days away from them.”
After six weeks in hospital in Brisbane, Kerryn was able to return home and began weekly visits to the renal unit and nephrologist Dr Danielle Wu at Mackay Base Hospital for ongoing blood tests, monitoring and follow up care.
Four months later, these visits have reduced to fortnightly.
Kerryn has now returned to work and resumed normal activities with his family including taking his son to his soccer training and games.
The light at the end of the tunnel during his recovery, he said, was knowing that the transplant had gifted him “more time” with his young family.
“I also don’t have to go to the hospital three times a week for dialysis anymore,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to going home to Normanton where I grew up and my family still lives.
“I haven’t been able to go home since 2022 as they don’t have dialysis available and travelling there was too far.
“Knowing that I can now go home to see my family really helped me to remain positive.”
The opening of the North Queensland Kidney Transplant service in Townsville later this year has real potential to benefit local renal patients and enable more people to consider kidney transplants.
Being closer to home, it would also give young local families the opportunity to visit which may help patients with their recovery.
“Being closer to home and not having to travel to a big city could help patients who are anxious about travelling to Brisbane,” Kerryn said.
“Having to fly to Brisbane was not possible for my family when I had my transplant. We were lucky as my wife’s mum and sister were able to help us with the kids.
“The kids didn’t seem to be affected immediately, but after my return to Mackay my boy had a bit of anxiety thinking his dad was going to go away again.”
By Mackay Hospital and Health Service
The opening of the North Queensland Kidney Transplant service in Townsville later this year has real potential to benefit local renal patients and enable more people to consider kidney transplants.
After six years on dialysis, Mackay father-of-three Kerryn Grieve received a life-changing kidney transplant earlier this year, allowing him to return to work, reunite with family, and plan a long-awaited trip home to Normanton. Photo source: MHHS
Publishers Indemnity. Any individual or entity that places advertising, supplies copy material, or submits editorial content to Core Life Publishing agrees and undertakes to ensure that all such material:- Does not infringe upon any copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights;- Is free from any content that could be considered defamatory, libelous, or slanderous;- Does not infringe upon any rights related to privacy or breach of confidence;- Contains no obscene, indecent, or otherwise unlawful material;- Complies fully with the Trade Practices Act and all other applicable laws, regulations, or statutes.Furthermore, by submitting or placing such material, these individuals or entities agree to indemnify and hold harmless the publisher, Core Publishing and Events Pty Ltd, and/or its agents from and against any and all investigations, claims, demands, liabilities, damages, costs, or judgments arising out of or in connection with the material provided. All material is believed to be accurate at the time of printing and remains the copyright of Core Publishing and Events Pty Ltd.
© 2024 Mackay and Whitsunday Life Pty Ltd.
