A Match for Lee-Anne | A kidney donor awareness initiative

Kidney Donor Awareness Initiative

Help us reach the right match

HELP US REACH THE RIGHT MATCH

A kidney could give Lee-Anne more than freedom from dialysis.

One share. One conversation. One possible match.

Meet Lee-Anne

Working in the transport industry inspired one of Lee-Anne's favourite analogies.

Every responsible fleet owner understands the importance of scheduled servicing and preventative maintenance to keep a vehicle running reliably.

"I've come to think of dialysis as my scheduled service. It's my oil change. It keeps my engine running exactly as my doctors intend it to."

This simple perspective reflects the way she chooses to live, focusing on what keeps her moving forward rather than what holds her back. She refuses to let kidney disease define her, choosing instead to embrace each day with gratitude, faith and purpose.

As Lee-Anne often says,

"A negative mind is like a truck with a flat tyre. You can't go anywhere until you change it."

By sharing her journey, she hopes to raise awareness of kidney disease, dialysis, and the life-changing potential of living kidney donation, while continuing to live each day with resilience, faith, and gratitude

“It might sound strange, but something I look forward to most is regaining my bladder function”

“I cannot wait to drink a tall glass of ice cold water on a hot summer's day”

“I cannot wait to enjoy a Friday pizza night with my family at home”

Lee-Anne's Medical Journey

Diagnosed with kidney tumours in 2013, Lee-Anne underwent the removal of her left kidney and remained healthy for several years.

In 2019, complications during treatment for gallstones revealed that her remaining kidney was deteriorating.

By early 2020, her kidney function had declined rapidly, and today she lives with End Stage Kidney Disease, requiring 12 hours of life-sustaining haemodialysis every week while following strict fluid and dietary restrictions. Doctors suspect Nephrotic Syndrome, although a biopsy is not possible because her remaining kidney is too fragile.

Lee-Anne has been on the kidney transplant waiting list for six years and is currently awaiting a kidney from a deceased donor through Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre.

Living With Dialysis

Dialysis is far more than a treatment, it is a way of life that requires constant planning, discipline and resilience.

Alongside 12 hours of haemodialysis each week, Lee-Anne follows a strict low sodium, low potassium and low phosphate diet, with a daily fluid allowance of just 500 ml. Because her kidneys can no longer remove excess fluid, even drinking too much water can become dangerous.

Dialysis is physically demanding and often causes fatigue, low blood pressure and muscle cramps.

Despite these daily challenges, Lee-Anne continues to embrace life with gratitude, proving that a chronic illness does not define a person's strength, purpose or ability to make a meaningful difference.

A Message From Lee-Anne

"I don't see myself as a victim of kidney disease. I see myself as someone who has been given another opportunity to appreciate life. Yes, dialysis is hard. Yes, there are days when it's exhausting. But I choose gratitude over self-pity and hope over fear. I love my work. I love my family. I love the people I get to share life with. If my story encourages someone to look after their health, register as an organ donor, learn more about kidney disease, or even explore whether living donation could one day help someone, then sharing it has been worthwhile. As Nightbirde once said, 'You can't wait until life isn't hard anymore before you decide to be happy.' That's exactly how I choose to live."

Could You Be a Living Kidney Donor?

Lee-Anne has an A+ blood group and is currently awaiting a life-saving kidney transplant.

Living kidney donation begins with a confidential medical assessment to determine whether a person is a suitable match and whether donation would be safe for both donor and recipient. Not everyone will be medically eligible to donate, and there is never any expectation or obligation to do so.

If Lee-Anne's story has inspired you to learn more about living kidney donation or explore whether you could be a potential donor, we encourage you to make a confidential enquiry.

Even if donation is not possible, raising awareness about kidney disease and organ donation can help give hope to those waiting for a second chance at life.

Visit the Transplant Unit Website

Why Living Kidney Donation Matters

A healthy person can live a full and active life with just one kidney, making living kidney donation one of the most successful forms of organ transplantation. Every potential donor undergoes comprehensive medical and psychological assessments to ensure donation is safe for both donor and recipient. While not everyone is medically able to donate, greater awareness helps more people understand the life-changing impact living donation can have.

Through Lee-Anne's story, we also hope to raise awareness of kidney disease, which often progresses silently until irreversible damage has occurred.

As Lee-Anne says, "I choose gratitude over fear, hope over self-pity, and happiness despite the challenges."

Interested in being assessed as a potential donor?

Making an enquiry does not commit you to donating. Contact the authorised transplant team confidentially to learn more about the assessment process.

Visit the Transplant Unit Website

Myths vs Facts

1MYTH: If someone is on dialysis, they're getting better.

FACT: Dialysis is not a cure. It is a life-sustaining treatment that performs some of the functions of healthy kidneys. Most patients with End Stage Kidney Disease require dialysis for the rest of their lives unless they receive a successful kidney transplant.

2MYTH: People on dialysis can drink as much water as they want.

FACT: Most dialysis patients have very strict fluid limits because their kidneys can no longer remove excess fluid. Too much fluid can place dangerous strain on the heart and lungs and may become a medical emergency.

3MYTH: A kidney transplant cures kidney disease forever.

FACT: A transplant offers the best quality of life for many patients, but it is not a cure. Recipients require lifelong medical follow-up and anti-rejection medication to protect the donated kidney.

4MYTH: You can't live a normal life with only one kidney.

FACT: Most healthy people can live full, active and healthy lives with one kidney. Living kidney donors undergo extensive medical testing to ensure donation is safe for both the donor and the recipient.

5MYTH: Anyone can donate a kidney.

FACT: Living donation is only possible after comprehensive medical and psychological assessments. The safety and long-term health of the donor are always the highest priority.

6MYTH: Kidney disease always has obvious symptoms.

FACT: Kidney disease is often called a "silent disease" because many people experience few or no symptoms until significant kidney function has already been lost. Regular health screenings can help detect kidney disease early.

7MYTH: People on dialysis can't work or live productive lives.

FACT: Many dialysis patients continue working, raising families and contributing to their communities. While treatment is physically demanding, many people choose to keep living life to the fullest every day.

Did You Know?

Your kidneys filter approximately 180 litres of blood every day.
More than 90% of kidney function can be lost before symptoms become obvious.
A healthy person can donate one kidney and continue living a healthy, active life.
Living kidney donation offers many patients the opportunity to regain independence from dialysis and significantly improve their quality of life.