Local kidney transplant patient 'feels 100 times better'

In a matter of days, Eric and Debbie Pritchard will celebrate a very special anniversary – a first.

On Oct. 3, 2018 at London Health Science Centre (LHSC), Debbie underwent surgery donating one of her kidneys to her husband, Eric.

For 22 years, Eric lived with IgA Nephropathy. His body's immune system was harming the kidney and over time, the kidney's filtration system failed to work. Once diagnosed, the life expectancy of a diseased kidney is 20 years and Eric had maxed out time. Since the transplant, the Richards Landing resident has experienced positive strides.

"I feel 10 times better… no 100 times better," he said, adding the past year has meant slowly recovering.

In a recent interview, Eric said the transplant was life changing. There was a minor setback in April but doctors were prepared.

"There was some ups and downs, but nothing major," Eric said. "I think I was my own worst enemy because I felt so good, why quit doing stuff?”

Eric was told it wasn't a matter of not feeling better but his body needed time to recover.

"There was about a month that I was feeling pretty sh***y, due to an unexpected virus from Debbie's kidney," he said.

It wasn't a serious setback and anti-rejection medication was adjusted allowing his own immune system to fight the virus successfully.

Eric does require routine blood tests and regular visits to the Renal specialist in Sault Ste. Marie and his family doctor in Richards Landing. The past several month’s bloods test did not show any serious issues and Eric expects blood tests to begin quarterly rather than monthly.

"I don't mind going to work again," he said. He lived with numerous restrictions due to his health for two years prior to the transplant. He began dialysis on Oct. 1, 2017 and stopped treatment Oct. 3, 2018.

Regular dialysis treatments and his overall health due to the diseased kidney impacted many areas of his life, from lifting and traveling to work and duties around home.

"There was nothing slow about it," Eric added. "For me it came as feeling better for a year than feeling sh***y for a year. The days don't drag on, you have something to do."

Debbie returned to work as an education assistant at St. Joseph Island Central School two month after surgery in January 2019. She has since retired.

"I was a bit sore for a while, but that's it. It was really nothing," she said. "I'd do it all again in a second."

Debbie's kidney was removed and micro surgery was required through an incision rather than the expected laparoscopy requiring a longer recovery period.

"You wouldn't know today she even had it done, as far as the surgery goes," Eric added.

Earlier this month, Eric and Debbie attended the 20th anniversary Multi-Organ Transplant Program.

"It was pretty awesome," Debbie said.

Once a year, LHSC holds a donor recognition event at the Ivy-Spencer Leadership Centre in London, Ont. It was a two-part gathering – he first part was for the living donors and their guests. Debbie was asked to present a short video as to why she donated her kidney. Guests then paid tribute to the deceased organ donors following the presentations.

"There was mixed emotions," Eric said, adding that the night offered closure for the families.

About 70 guests attended and each received a green lapel pin. Debbie was presented with two lapel pins – a green ribbon and a Gift of Life pin, as well a token engraved with the date she donated her kidney.

Neither of the Pritchard's are required a return visit to London unless there's a problem.

Since its first kidney transplant in 1973, more than 6,000 transplants have been done at London Health Science Centre.

In Ontario during 2018, 1,235 organ transplants were done, including those from 219 living kidney donors.