Episode 147: 30 Years With Kidney Disease to Kidney Transplant: Louise’s Story

What happens when chronic kidney disease has been part of your life for more than 30 years — and you’ve spent much of that time believing you’ll never need dialysis or a kidney transplant? In this episode of Diary of a Kidney Warrior Podcast, Dee speaks with Louise Fletcher about her journey from being diagnosed with IgA nephropathy in her early twenties to kidney failure and eventually receiving the kidney transplant she affectionately named “Katie the Kidney”. Louise’s story begins during an incredibly difficult period of her life. While investigations into her kidney health were taking place, she discovered she was pregnant. Her son was born prematurely at 32 weeks and sadly lived for just six days. Shortly afterwards, a kidney biopsy led to Louise being diagnosed with IgA nephropathy. For decades, Louise says she largely “put it in a box”. Kidney disease didn’t appear to stop her living her life: she worked, travelled and even became a fitness instructor. But as her kidney function eventually declined, the possibility she had always resisted became very real — kidney replacement therapy. Louise shares how she faced the prospect of dialysis, went through the kidney transplant assessment process and joined the transplant waiting list. Just seven months later, the call came. She takes Dee inside the unforgettable experience of receiving her transplant — from learning about her donor to actually seeing “Katie” arrive at the hospital and travelling to theatre with the donated kidney at the end of her bed. Louise also talks candidly about delayed graft function, her recovery after transplantation and the physical changes she began noticing after receiving her new kidney. But this conversation goes beyond transplantation. Louise reflects on the emotional impact of living with kidney disease, why she wishes she had engaged more with her diagnosis during those 30 years, the importance she places on looking after mental and emotional wellbeing, and what she would say to someone who is frightened of dialysis or transplantation. Her message to people living with kidney disease is simple: a diagnosis does not define who you are. It is part of your story. 🎧 Listen to the full conversation to hear Louise’s remarkable journey from IgA nephropathy and kidney failure to transplantation, hope and life with Katie the Kidney. Content warning: This episode contains discussions of baby loss and other sensitive experiences which some listeners may find distressing. Diary of a Kidney Warrior Podcast is produced in partnership with Kidney Care UK. #DiaryOfAKidneyWarriorPodcast #KidneyDisease #CKD #IgANephropathy #KidneyFailure #KidneyTransplant #OrganDonation #KidneyPatient #KidneyHealth

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