After only a few weeks on the transplant waitlist, dialysis patient receives kidney
After needing kidney treatment for fifteen years and dialysis for three years, John Bond received a kidney transplant after being on the waitlist for a few weeks.
If good things come to those who wait, then, in John Bond’s case, even better things come to those who don’t.
Last April, Bond received the life-saving call that he was a match for a kidney transplant. Bond, who received medical management of his deteriorating kidneys for fifteen years and was on dialysis for three years—first at home and then at HSC—signed up to be on the waitlist upon discovering he would be a suitable candidate, and received the call in just a few weeks.
The 76-year-old retired professor and former Manager of Research at Riverview Health Centre was surprised at the very short time he had to wait. But, as an older person he is so appreciative to receive the gift of a kidney from the donor and the family who provided it. “I don’t need the same kidney that, say, a 30-year-old recipient does. If I can get 10 years out of this kidney, I am elated,” says Bond. Now his quality of life has improved and he plans for future possibilities.
Post-surgery, Bond spent a total of four weeks at HSC Winnipeg while the hospital was battling the Omicron variant of COVID-19. “The level of care was remarkable. Everyone’s attitude was so positive—you wouldn’t know that staff were working overtime. I felt very monitored and received excellent care,” says Bond.
These four weeks of exceptional care added to Bond’s history with HSC. Forty-three years ago, HSC brought Bond’s son into this world; 18 years ago, HSC started to care for Bond when he was diagnosed with kidney disease; and 14 years ago, HSC was there to deliver compassionate care when his wife Sharon was diagnosed with leukemia and passed away 10 days later.
John Bond on dialysis pre-transplant. In 2004, Bond was diagnosed with advanced kidney disease; in 2018 his kidneys stopped functioning.
Now, Bond can also attest to the benefits of the HSC Transplant Wellness Centre as he receives post-transplant follow-up care in the donor-funded centre, which was unveiled in April 2021.
Thanks to supporters of the centre—which has quadruple the clinical space of the previous location and includes a dedicated phlebotomy room—kidney transplant operations have increased, wait times have decreased, and patients have access to safer care.
Further, the multidisciplinary team is all under one roof. “It truly is a one-stop-shop,” says Bond.
One place that Bond will no longer need to stop at is the HSC Sherbrook Dialysis Unit—aside from occasionally visiting the staff and patients that he has become friends with. “Some of the nurses were crying happy tears when I first visited after my transplant. Typically, it isn’t a good sign when a patient stops coming to dialysis. Everyone was so happy for me.”
During National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week, we sincerely thank those who have chosen to become organ donors, acknowledge the hardworking team at the HSC Transplant Wellness Centre, and thank donors whose gifts support transplant care. To support the care of patients like John Bond, please click here, email [email protected], or call 204-515-5612 or 1-800-679-8493 (toll-free).
By Natasha Havrilenko
