Grzegorz's kidneys suddenly stopped working. The only salvation was a kidney transplant. Aunt and uncle made a decision - they will be donors. But despite the perfect tissue compatibility, it was not certain that a transplant would happen. The law stood in the way.
It was June 13, 2006. Grzegorz Siekierzyński-Dudek was taken to the Warsaw hospital at Banacha Street with a diagnosis of extreme renal failure. To save his life, doctors gave him 2.5 hours of dialysis. A few weeks earlier, he saw his doctor because his heart felt as if it was beating too fast. He was referred for basic research. The doctor looked at the results and found some inflammation in the body, but focused on the work of the heart. She suggested that Grzegorz visit the hospital clinic, which has devices for measuring blood pressure 24 hours a day, and also consulted the results of blood and urine.
- They did not put the holter on, because they did not have them, but they saw the results - remembers Grzegorz . - The doctor ordered additional blood tests and a chest X-ray. I waited in the corridor and resented myself that I was probably oversensitive about my he alth, that I was wasting my time, that I was bothering others. In the end, it was established that the cause of the arrhythmias is very high levels of potassium in the blood. But that wasn't what worried the doctor. It turned out that mykidneysdid not work.
From that day on, Grzegorz's life was subordinated to dialysis. They were done 3 times a week.
It was a terrible time. I was irritated by waiting for an ambulance, for a slow dialysis machinefor dialysis , late returns home - she recalls. "But to tell you the truth, I didn't believe I was seriously ill." Doctors mentionedkidney transplant , but in front of me I pretended it was someone else's.
Although kidney donation is associated with the risk of donor death (it happens once in 1600 donations), research conducted in the world confirms that after nephrectomy, i.e. kidney removal, the life of donors does not change even after several decades. Perhaps this is because donors are under regular medical check-ups.
Kidney transplant - uncle decides to donate the kidney
Grzegorz's disease shook the family. There was no discussion or consideration of how to get a kidney. Independently of each other, the donors were decided to be aunt Katarzyna Cichońska and uncleGrzegorz, Wojciech Cichoński.
- On the same day, when Grzegorz was admitted to the hospital, my grandson was born - says Wojciech Cichoński. - It was a special day for me. Joy was intertwined with despair, because it was not known what was wrong with Grzes. The mere use of dialysis did not explain anything, but some disturbing news was coming from the hospital. Grzegorz has had problems with the urinary system since he was a child, but they have never been so serious. Perhaps the kidney failure progressed in secret? I can't tell when I decided I wanted to give my nephew a kidney. My sister and I went to the hospital in Banacha Street. We talked to the doctor for a long time, but neither of us backed off our decision. My sister was the first one to be examined. After a few days, it was my turn. The stay in the ward allowed me to take a closer look at the fate of people who live thanks to dialysis. Their helplessness and the complications they struggled with made me believe that a transplant is the best solution for Grześ. I didn't think I was saving his life. I just wanted him not to suffer, so that he could decide his fate.
By coincidence, Katarzyna had to withdraw from further research. Grzegorz's uncle was left alone on the battlefield. Specialized research has begun. It turned out that he is the ideal donor.
- Research has shown that the tissue compatibility between Grzes and me is greater than it would appear from the degree of kinship - says Wojciech.
Only a scar resembles a kidney transplant
There were, however, legal doubts. Doctors wondered whether procedures should be implemented in which the court would decide to perform the transplant.
- I was asked to go to the hospital - says Wojciech. - The doctor explained the situation to me. The complication was that the relationship was not in a straight line. I was asked for a long time about my motives, if I knew what I was doing or if I had no concerns. In the end, it was decided that the transplant would take place. Was I afraid? I haven't thought about it. After all, I didn't know about many things. Our transplant took place before the transplant, which was famous in the media, and the donor was Przemysław Saleta. And only then did more talk about transplants begin. Of course I had various fears, I asked myself many questions, but I found answers to them myself or with the help of doctors. Today I can responsibly say that there is nothing to be afraid of. If you can save a loved one in this way, there's nothing to think about.
Giving a kidney to my nephew did not change Mr. Wojciech's life. In his spare time, he rides a bicycle, hikes in the mountains and hunts birds with binoculars. He lives normally. He works professionally and socially.
- One of meonly irritating - he adds with a sneer. - Now I have to drink a lot. Water, of course - he emphasizes with a smile. - Every day I have to drink at least 2 liters of water, and on warmer days even 4. This allows me to maintain the efficiency of my kidney at the level of 80%. two kidneys of a he althy person.
There are more and more days in Mr. Wojciech's life that he does not think about what happened. The only thing that reminds me of the operation is a scar.
Grzegorz and his uncle don't see each other very often. This allows them to distance themselves from what happened.
- I think it is a bit more difficult for people who are with each other on a daily basis - explains Mr. Wojciech. - Anyway, here a lot depends also on the mental attitude towards the transplant itself. I don't think I have accomplished anything great. But giving the kidney to Grzes and the opportunity to observe how it functions now, reassured me that it is worth supporting the idea of transplantation with all my might. Please take a look, I even wear bands every day that say: I do not take my organs to heaven, transplant - I am like that. People often ask me what that means. Then I can tell them about the transplants. And when they find out that I donated a kidney myself, they get big eyes. "How's that?" - they ask. "And you live like that?".
Kidney transplants: there's still a lot to do
The willingness to promote transplantology and his own experience prompted Wojciech Cichoński to establish the Po: Dzielni Foundation, whose goal is to care and help people who are organ donors.
- The Foundation was established because I believe that some of the records the transplant law does not correspond to reality. There is a possibility of an honorary donation of a kidney in the world. In Poland, where there are so few transplants from living donors, such solutions are not allowed. Here, only a relative in a straight line can be a donor: father, mother, brother. Besides, medical care for a living donor is very limp. I am saying this based on my own experience. In the past, I needed medical help, and because I know that there is no queue for donors, as well as honorary blood donors, I wanted to take advantage of this privilege. I asked at registration how can I do this. I heard words that I will never forget: "And what proof do you have that you are a donor?" Like I got hit in the face. I was about to unbutton my shirt, but I thought: I'll hear that it's a souvenir from the fun at the fire station. Well, living organ donors have no credentials to prove their eligibility, so there's another thing to do. This should not be a problem, because there are about 300 of these people in Poland. The Foundation also wants to look after families who have agreed to donate organs for transplantation from their deceased relatives.
- I consider these people to beextremely brave - says Wojciech Cichoński. - In my opinion, when someone close, often young, dies, it is much more difficult to make a decision about donating their organs for transplantation than to do what I did.
New life and wedding bells
After the transplant, Grzegorz spent 2 weeks in the hospital. With the help of a rehabilitator, he learned to walk again in order not to feel pain when moving. He was quickly getting back in shape. Doctors emphasized that this was due to a fast transplant. Grzegorz was undergoing dialysis for only 5 months, so the disease has not yet had time to wreak havoc on his body.
- I am happy that I have a new kidney - honestly admits Grzegorz. - Initially, I wanted my aunt to be my donor - in my childhood I spent a lot of time with her. But I was glad when it became clear that it would be uncle. I will always have a particularly cordial attitude towards him, but that does not mean that I feel addicted to my uncle. Each of us leads his own life, has his own affairs, smaller and bigger problems. We keep a certain distance, which does not deprive any of us of our independence.
Today Grzegorz is 29 years old. He emphasizes that he is a free man. He no longer has to give up foreign trips and trips. He works, which was impossible with dialysis. A year ago, he started a family. Even a significant visual impairment cannot stop him from realizing his next plans. Instantly gains new acquaintances and friends. He is active and outgoing. He is an extremely cheerful young man, curious about the world and full of energy. Laughing, he says about himself:
- In June this year I will be 4 years old and I think I'm doing pretty well for such a baby.
» In Poland, collecting kidneys from living donors is regulated by the Act of 17 July 2009. A kidney can be donated to a relative in a straight line, a sibling, an adopted person, a spouse or another person (e.g. a partner), if it is justified by special personal reasons.
» Before giving consent, the potential donor must be informed in detail and in writing about the type and course of the operation, possible complications and consequences of organ donation. For organs donated for transplantation, under pen alty of imprisonment (up to 5 years), no material benefits may be accepted in any form.
» A candidate for a donor may be a he althy person, of legal age, sure that they want to help their loved one, and having a blood type compatible with the recipient, but not necessarily the same. For example: a person with group 0 can donate to people with groups 0, A, B and AB.
» Donor qualification takes place in four stages, during which, apart from talking to doctors and a psychologist,there are also many medical tests that confirm good he alth.
» The donor may withdraw at any stage of the research. Living donor kidney transplantation must also be approved by the recipient.