A mum dismissed her sickness as the after-effects of partying too hard in Benidorm until doctors dropped a bombshell.
Sarah Jane Robinson, had been away with friends to celebrate her 40th birthday.
However on her return from the party trip she found she "couldn't shake off the sickness" but put it down to her age.
Sarah had been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was 20 and in the space of three years, her daughters, Kayleigh (then two years old) and Aimee (10 months) were also diagnosed.
As a single parent, the pressure of coping with three insulin-dependent diabetics, each needing daily injections, was hard work.
Sarah said: "Life was difficult, but we adapted, and I really didn’t think about the complications diabetes can bring until 20 years later when I began feeling unwell.
However, it was only after her Benidorm holiday, in 2012 that the Bootle mum, now 48, began to feel ill.
She said: "It was like I couldn’t shake off the sickness. I assumed it was from the partying and put it down to my age.”
She was working as a medical secretary at that time and could barely keep her eyes open at her desk and most days felt nauseous.
Sarah said: “One day after work I went to the walk-in centre. I had a severe kidney infection and the doctor made me promise to go to the GP the next day.”
However, Sarah felt so sick, she went home to bed where she remained for three days.
She said: “When I finally contacted my GP for blood tests, the bombshell was dropped. My kidney had failed, and I was sent immediately to Royal Liverpool Hospital.”
After three weeks in hospital, she came home but was severely unwell and for four years she felt constantly ill and fell into a deep depression.
Eventually, Sarah began dialysis, four times a day, seven days a week.
After almost two years of dialysis, her first kidney and pancreas double transplant match had to be turned down due to a chest infection.
Four months later, her second match came through, but as she made her way to hospital, she had a bad feeling. “I felt wrong and scared.”
Sarah suffered a heart attack under anaesthetic and surgeons had to halt the transplant.
Finally, in July 2017, two months after the heart attack in theatre, Sarah had her third-time lucky double transplant.
However, all Sarah could think about on the journey to hospital and whilst being prepared for surgery, was how another family was suffering.
She said: “At that moment I felt guilt and profound sadness that another family were going through hell. Those thoughts mess with your head, even years later.”
The surgery went well but two days later Sarah contracted pneumonia and spent eleven days in ICU, requiring haemodialysis via a neckline. After three weeks in hospital, she was allowed home.
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Sarah said: “Everyone assumes you are fixed and can get back to normal life, but that isn’t how it works.
"Kidney disease and transplant is not a one size fits all.
“I take meds to stop my kidney and pancreas from rejecting, but the tablets make me feel sick every day and don’t come without risk.
"I’m losing my hair as a side effect and I’ve lost so much confidence, which makes me feel sad.
“Society tends to focus only on the physical but we’re ignoring the mental impact of transplant recovery and kidney disease in general, which we really need to address”.
While the transplant was successful, Sarah said she cannot shake the guilt for the family who courageously offered her the gift of life after losing their loved one.
Sarah’s donor was a 19-year-old girl and every year, Sarah and her daughters send a card to the family on the anniversary of her passing away.
They also lay flowers at their local organ donation garden in memory of her and the gifts she has given.
She said: “I’m so grateful to be alive, but at times it’s mixed with guilt. This is all jumbled up with anxiety about what’s around the corner health-wise.
“I wish kidney patients could access specialised counselling to come to terms with it all.
"It’s emotional stuff. You have your transplant, but when the physical side is OK, you’re left to get on with it.
“Our renal teams are amazing, transplants are a miracle of modern medicine, our NHS is fantastic, but the mental health impact is huge. It’s something that’s not talked about enough.”
Sarah said she is grateful to former Manchester United striker, Andy Cole, for speaking out about his own journey which helps kidney patients like her.
She said: “When I heard Andy, an ambassador for Kidney Research UK, talk so openly about his battles with kidney disease on BBC Radio 5 Live I sobbed.
“His story felt like my story. A huge wave of relief washed over me because through his courage in talking honestly, more people will understand the impact of kidney failure
“My hope is that the fund finds research to help those suffering from kidney disease and for my girls, in case Type 1 diabetes causes them kidney problems further down the line.
"Also, to give me and others suffering, the hope of a better quality of life.”
Dr Maria Tenant, head of communications at Kidney Research UK, said: “We are so grateful to Sarah for sharing her story with us to raise awareness on World Kidney Day.
“Kidneys are the big topic that everyone’s ignoring. We are putting kidneys in the foreground, to show that they are something you shouldn’t ignore.
“Kidneys are the unsung heroes inside our bodies. These small organs have a huge role to play in keeping us healthy, acting like a mini washing machine inside us, to get rid of toxins.
“When things go wrong, the consequences can be devastating. We want to help people look after their kidneys, and to encourage those at risk to get their kidneys checked.”
To find out if you are at risk of kidney disease take the Kidney Research UK online kidney health check: https://kidneyresearchuk.org/kidneyhealthcheck/
For more information about World Kidney Day in the UK visit: www.worldkidneyday.co.uk
For more information about the Andy Cole Fund Andy Cole Fund - Kidney Research UK
