Mother of two campaigns to save her life, by encouraging living kidney donors to step forward
- Ayesha Edmonson, from BURY, GREATER MANCHESTER is currently living with 16% kidney function
- The 49-year-old mother of two has been told a kidney transplant is needed imminently to save her life
- The former JOHN LEWIS Personal Stylist is urging people with Bangladeshi-British heritage to become a living kidney donor
- Last year there were only 53 ethnic minorities who were living kidney donors
A MOTHER of two who desperately needs a lifesaving kidney transplant says she is campaigning to raise awareness on living organ donation in the hope it will save her life as well as the many others who are in a desperate situation living without the urgent kidney transplant, they need.
Ayesha Edmondson, a 49-year-old mother of two from Bury, Greater Manchester was first diagnosed with pre-eclampsia when she was pregnant with her eldest son 23 years ago. Also, immediately after she gave birth, a biopsy showed both her kidneys were damaged. She was diagnosed with Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), a life-threatening disease in which scar tissue develops on the small parts of the kidneys that filter waste from the blood.
Ayesha and her two sons
Ayesha says “At the time I didn’t really understand what the diagnosis meant for me in the future. All I could really think about was to concentrate on being a mum to my new-born son, working to provide for him and living a normal life as much as possible.”
Six years later Ayesha became pregnant with her second child with her entire pregnancy being closely monitored by the hospital renal team.
Although Ayesha’s health has been affected since she 1998 as a result of FSGS, she has managed to live her life finding joy in all things pertaining to home DIY, eating out, attending the theatre and spending time with her two dogs Darcey and Leopold. However, over the last four years, Ayesha’s physical health has shown signs of deterioration, leaving her unable to continue doing the things which have been dear to her for most of her life.
Ayesha adds “In August 2020 hospital consultants have confirmed I’m currently living with Stage Four Kidney Failure. My kidney function is currently at 16%. Once it hits 15%, I will need an immediate kidney transplant.”
Ayesha continues “I wasn’t aware my symptoms would lead to this… to kidney failure. It’s taking me some time to get my head around what I’ve been told, so much so, I was previously flagged as a vulnerable patient by my renal nurse; I was completely unaware, I was in the midst of a breakdown. I’m so grateful for the help and support which has been provided to me, whilst dealing with this part of my health journey. And now I’m in a better place mentally, I want to campaign on educating others about my journey, sharing information on how everyone has the power to be a living kidney donor. I want to raise awareness to help potential donors who are considering becoming a living donor to make informed decisions, which can help save my life or people in their family who they know are battling kidney failure and are in desperate need of a lifesaving kidney transplant.”
ACLT co-founder Beverley De-Gale OBE says: “To be told there is not a matched donor on the Organ Transplant Register for you, because of your ethnicity, is devastating. No-one wants to hear this. But to know that the very people who look like you, have the power to change this and potentially save your life, and not just yours, but also the many thousands who are in need too, brings an unexplainable level of determination and hope. This hope is needed to get patients and their families through the darkest of times, so I encourage everyone, particularly ethnic minorities and in the case of Ayesha, individuals of Bangladeshi – British heritage to step forward. Please find out more on how you could become a living kidney donor and be a potential lifesaving match for Ayesha.”
To register your interest to become a living kidney donor for Ayesha, please CLICK HERE