•Living donor narrates story of selfless sacrifice
•Says it’s inhuman to monetise organ donation
In a world where the demand for organ transplants far outweighs supply, the story of Evelyn Abrakson stands as a shining example of human compassion and the power of living donation. Abrakson recently shared her remarkable experience as a living kidney donor, shedding light on the realities and misconceptions surrounding this life-saving act. DELE ANOFI was there.
According to global statistics, the number of solid organ transplants performed worldwide in 2022 reached 144,302, marking an 11.3% increase from 2020. Kidney transplants accounted for the majority of these procedures.
However, the availability of deceased donors varies significantly across countries and regions, with the African region having the lowest deceased donation rates per million population.
In the United States alone, there were 39,850 organ transplants from deceased donors in 2022, with a total of 41,887 transplants, including living donor transplants. As of January 2023, over 107,000 people in the U.S. were on the national transplant waiting list, underscoring the critical need for more donors.
Abrakson’s Inspiring Story
Abrakson’s journey as a living donor began nine years ago when she made the selfless decision to donate one of her kidneys to her ailing mother.
“My motivation was my mum. She was an awesome human being, and if I were the one who was sick, my mum wouldn’t think twice about donating to me. And seeing her going through all those pains before my eyes, it was just easy to donate to her,” she said.
Since her donation, Abrakson has not encountered any significant health issues or stigma from her loved ones, saying, “No, not at all. I’ve been very okay, never fallen sick because I donated a kidney, and I’ve never experienced any life-threatening illnesses since then.
“I’ve long learnt that research has shown that living kidney donors of all ethnicities have the same life expectancies or live just as long as people who do not donate. So, I wasn’t placed on or needed to take medicine for the rest of my life just because I donated a kidney.
“And financially, my time of payment was decided between me and the transplant team. Besides, paid medicine is only needed for a short time after surgery.
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“Also, just like all living donors, I wasn’t given a special diet to follow after donating but a healthy balanced diet is recommended for me, just like for other donors.
“I don’t take alcohol, but I was told that donors can still drink alcohol in moderation.
“Most importantly, I was advised by the medical team to take special care of the kidneys I have left, including protecting them during contact sports.
“Even a female donor only needs to wait between six months to one year after a donation to become pregnant because the body needs time to recover from the surgery and to adjust to living with one kidney before pregnancy.
“But proper antenatal care should not be taken for granted. Experts have made us to know that.
“And I have never encountered any stigma. Instead, I would say people are really proud of my actions.”
Addressing the common misconceptions surrounding organ donation, Abrakson emphasised the importance of understanding the process and the impact it can have on someone’s life.
“People are afraid because they don’t understand. And then maybe they are afraid because they are not donating from a place of love.
“Love motivates you. When you have love, you care for humanity. You don’t think about it; you just do it.
“Except one is without a heart, there’s no way you’ll see anyone going through the pains of kidney failure that you won’t be moved to do something.
“Humanity alone is enough to motivate us into donating an organ for someone else to live, and it is so fulfilling. I mean personal fulfillment when you donate an organ, knowing that you contributed your part to giving life to someone.
“This brings me to the issue of commercialization of organ donation, which I believe borders on cruelty regardless of the global economic situation.
“My own belief is that it is inhuman to monetise organ donation, and that is why it is called donation. It should be a selfless act because you are aware of what you want to do, which is an act of humanity.
“Money should not be a reason for donating. If you put yourself in others’ shoes, you’ll see that giving hope to someone is invaluable.
“In my view, I also see it as criminal and inhuman to coerce or trick someone without his or her consent, to donate a kidney.
“It should be a free will gesture without the motivation of money but of love.”
Considering her experience, Abrakson also believed that greater government support and intervention in the field of organ transplantation has become imperative.
According to her, the government needs to step up to assist kidney disease patients who often face significant financial burdens due to the high costs of dialysis and other treatments.
With the prevailing Nigeria’s near non-existent organ transplant landscape, Abrakson’s admonition comes in handy, considering that in Nigeria, chronic kidney disease affects a significant portion of the population.
According to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate during the commemoration of the 2024 Living Kidney Donor Day organised by Nisa Medical Group held in Abuja recently, high blood pressure, diabetes and other health issues are leading causes.
The lack of awareness and early intervention further compounds the problem, leading to advanced stages of the disease where more complex and costly treatments are required, he noted.
At the same event, Prof. Aliyu Abdu, a Consultant Physician/Nephrologist, Head of the Nephrology Unit at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, who is also the Vice President of the Transplant Association of Nigeria (TAN), highlighted the gap in Nigeria’s healthcare system, noting that most kidney transplants are performed in private hospitals, with only a few public hospitals actively participating.
“The number done in private hospitals is much higher than the number in the three active public hospitals,” he said, emphasising the need for greater public investment in this area.
Drawing from her experience as a living donor, Abrakson reiterated the urgent need for government intervention, saying: “To the government, I would say that they need to support kidney disease patients because they go through a lot before they even think about transplant.
“They spend a lot of money on dialysis and kidney care.
“For instance, in my own case, I had my transplant in India. For the past nine years, I do kidney tests and check-ups every six months.
“I feel no different from anyone else. Life goes on as usual. But for a struggling family, wouldn’t all of these become very burdensome?
“For a struggling family that has to contend with the high cost of managing the disease, don’t you think such a case is now dependent on God?
“First, for a struggling family, the little they have would definitely collapse if financial help is not coming from anywhere. Somebody’s job or business must definitely suffer on the account of caring for the patient, and if external assistance still refuses to come, the disease will progress, and the end would just be a matter of time for the patient who would eventually leave behind a family very prone to poverty if he or she is the breadwinner of the family.
“The consequences would be that the nation’s economy would have lost a lot of manpower hours, and the socioeconomic contribution of the deceased while poverty is deepened on that end.
“So, if the government can step up to influence assistance for kidney failure patients by bringing down the cost of diagnosis and care through in-country strengthening of our health care delivery system with adequate personnel, equipment and manufacturing capacity, it would be nice.”
Evelyn Abrakson’s story is a testament to the power of human compassion and the transformative impact of living organ donation. Her selfless act has not only saved a life but has also inspired others to consider the possibility of becoming living donors themselves.
As the global community continues to grapple with the challenges of organ transplantation, stories like Abrakson’s serve as a reminder of the profound difference that one person can make.
“By raising awareness, addressing misconceptions and advocating for greater government support, we can work towards a future where more lives are saved through the gift of life.
“The government needs to support kidney disease patients financially and provide better healthcare facilities.
“To potential donors, I say don’t be afraid. Donating a kidney is not something to fear; it’s a way of saving a life.”
