Steven Smith had been experiencing cramps and occasional vomiting, but didn’t think anything was seriously wrong. That was until a routine blood test in 2020 revealed his kidney function was down to 20%, and he was informed he would need a transplant if it got any lower. By 2022, his kidney function had dropped to 5%, prompting Steven to confide in his best friend, Kael Ace. Much to Steven’s surprise, Kael offered to donate one of his own kidneys.
“It goes then to a donor board, to make sure there’s no money or bribery involved,” Kael explained. The friends went through a series of tests to ensure that the donation was a perfect match, with interviews held separately to ensure nothing untoward was going on. Through pictures, Steven and Kael were able to verify the 10-year friendship that started when they joined the same rugby team.
Steven was initially told it could take up to two years to receive a transplant on the NHS and would have to undergo dialysis in the meantime. He couldn’t have imagined that his best friend would offer to donate his own kidney. According to Kael, his family was initially surprised but came around quickly after he explained the process.
Steven’s kidney function had dropped to 2% by September 2023, and he was having dialysis three times a week. It was emotionally draining for Kael to see his friend so ill. However, Kael’s donation finally allowed for the friends to prepare for surgery at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, where doctors successfully performed the operation on February 19th, 2022.
Steven and Kael have both recovered, and Steven reports feeling much better and healthier, stating that he hadn’t felt that way in three years. Kael says it was a “joy” seeing his friend looking better, able to tell through the phone that his color had come back to him. Steven encourages others to not put off going to see a GP if they have any suspicions that something is wrong, knowing firsthand that it can make all the difference
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