Kidneys: Expert details the signs something might be wrong
Graham Murray, from Levenshulme, was shocked to learn that he had kidney failure at the age of 27 and would require dialysis treatment for several years.
Initially dismissing his symptoms, Graham eventually sought medical advice.
His GP initially believed his condition to be “non-serious” but referred him to the A&E due to alarmingly high blood pressure.
Further tests revealed Graham had kidney failure.
He said: “When I was told how serious my condition was it was a massive shock.
“I’d been suffering from headaches, swelling of the ankles, shortness of breath and struggling to move. But I put off visiting my GP because I thought it would go away.”
Following his diagnosis, Graham began kidney dialysis treatment, which involved having a catheter and relying on overnight machines to filter fluids from his blood. His life became centred around managing his condition.
He said: “It was tough being on dialysis. My whole flat was filled with boxes and because of the tube in my belly it restricted me from being able to travel.”
Graham added: “My life became chaotic and restricted. I was going to move to London for a job I had lined up, but I had to stop all of that because I got so ill. I had to move in with my parents for a few months, it was a really difficult time.”
After enduring two years of dialysis, Graham underwent a successful kidney transplant in September 2021, with his mother as the donor. Reflecting on her decision, he said: “She was really keen to be the one to donate, and it was hard for her too. My mum had to go through a lot and a difficult operation.”
Now working as an affiliate manager at AO, Graham, along with a dedicated group of colleagues, completed a five-hour walk in support of Kidney Research UK.
He said: “Kidney Research does a lot of research into medication, I’m aware of a lot of what they do, and so I was really keen to be involved. They’ve provided a lot of indirect support through medication which has gotten a lot better and manageable for patients,”
Teaming up with eight other AO employees, Graham undertook a 28km trek from AO’s Bolton headquarters to the AO Arena in Manchester, raising funds for Kidney Research UK.
He said: “I was made up and the rest of the team were so keen to back Research UK as the chosen charity for our sponsored walk. I spent two years on dialysis before my transplant and now rely on immunosuppression for my transplanted kidney to remain healthy.
“Kidney Research UK have been very involved in all of my treatments so being able to raise so much money for them made the walk more than worth it.”
Despite scorching weather conditions, the group persevered through the challenging five-hour walk, raising more than £2,600 for Kidney Research UK. The event took place during AO’s biannual “Make a Difference” days, where employees can dedicate their time to community service or fundraising initiatives.
With an additional boost of £885 from AO’s charitable arm, the AO Smile Foundation, the donations surpassed the initial target of £1,500, resulting in a grand total of £2,655.
Ronan Peate, Community and Events Manager at Kidney Research UK, said: “It is always fantastic to see co-workers come together to take on a great challenge and raise money for charity particularly when it’s one that’s so close to their colleague’s heart.
“The AO employees have completed an amazing achievement and subsequently raised far more than their initial target and we are incredibly grateful for their determination and generosity.
“The money that they have raised will go to supporting research to help more people like Graham by transforming treatments and helping us to one day live in a world without kidney disease.”
This article was crafted with the help of AI tools, which speed up http://Express.co.uk’s editorial research. A news editor reviewed this content before it was published. You can report any errors to [email protected].
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info
Source: Read Full Article