An Edinburgh dad-of-two is so depleted of energy that he struggles to play with his young children due to the crippling effects of kidney disease.
Christopher Madden used to be full of life and was even able to run marathons, but now he has been told he won't get any better unless he gets a kidney transplant.
The electrical engineer was given the devastating news seven months ago that he has stage five kidney disease and he is now on the national organ transplant list.
From today onwards Scots who are over the age of 16 will automatically register as an organ donor unless they op-out, and Christopher is hoping that new law can increase his chances of the match he so desperately needs.
The 40-year-old told the Daily Record: “It was quite a shock – I had been to the doctor with a sore head and suddenly had seven medics surrounding my bed, explaining that my kidneys don’t work, I would have to have dialysis and a kidney transplant.
“I have been someone who keeps fit but this came about due to a very rare scarring on my kidneys – just unlucky I suppose.”
After a series of procedures and operations, Christopher had just three weeks to come to terms with his illness before starting a gruelling kidney dialysis regime
His wife Beverley Madden, 42, said: “We make so many plans for when he has a new kidney but at the moment, it just feels like an impossible dream.”
Christopher added: “I am still extremely tired – having dialysis is not a silver bullet. It keeps me alive but my kidney function is only ever raised to about 20 per cent.
“I used to run marathons and do circuit training and I would run to work and back.
“I always had energy – but now it’s hard enough to muster enough energy to play with the children for half an hour.”
Now the dad has to spend three nights away from his children Harry, seven, and two-year-old Georgia for dialysis, with a kidney transplant his only hope of a normal life.
Christopher is thankful for the new opt-out law and hopes it will take away some of the traumatic decision-making for relatives and adding: “If it takes more people off the transplant list, then it gives more people like me back their healthy lifestyles.”
