A husband and wife from Cardiff are taking on the Brecon Carreg CDF 10K to raise money for Kidney Wales after their lives were changed through a kidney transplant.
Pippa Bowkett, 47, donated her kidney to her husband Nick, 48, after his kidney function fell to below 10%.
The couple, who live in Castleton just outside of Cardiff, have seen Nick’s life improve dramatically since and now want to help raise awareness of the importance of organ donation.
Nick, who works as head of sales for precious metals at The Royal Mint, said: “I was about 20 when doctors first investigated higher than normal protein levels in my blood which meant something wrong with my kidneys. They found it was a result of a reflux bladder issue I’d had when I was baby which caused significant scarring of both kidneys.
“My kidney function at this age was around 40% but continued to decline steadily over the years, and in 2017 it then dropped dangerously to less than 10%. I was told needed a transplant or start dialysis.
“It was a huge shock. I wasn’t really aware that I was that poorly as the kidney function had declined steadily over the years, but I was now experiencing water retention and becoming extremely tired.”
As soon as transplant was mentioned, Pippa, who works as a marketing director, put herself forward for testing.
She said: “I loved him and could see how ill he was. I didn’t give it much thought, I just knew I had to get tested to see if I was a good match. If I might be able to give him a better quality of life and several more years, I had to go for it.”
Thankfully, tests revealed that Pippa was a suitable match and she could start the process to become a live donor. While they knew the success rates were high, they were worried about what might happen to their children, Victoria, now 14, Monty, 12, and Sebastian, nine, should anything go wrong.
Nick also had some further concerns. He said: “Pip was very selfless in putting herself forward, but I was nervous. While I knew you could live a healthy life on one kidney it was nerve wracking putting someone healthy into that situation.
“When we found out she was a match, I felt so blessed, and it was like winning the lottery. Pip, and anyone who donates in this way, are incredible and should be awarded and celebrated for putting themselves through life threatening surgery.”
Nick and Pippa went into the University Hospital of Wales in January 2018 for the transplant surgery, spending a week in hospital.
Pippa said: “It was a surreal experience being admitted together the night before and then Nick saying bye to me as I was wheeled to theatre.”
Both operations were a success, however Pippa caught a bug following surgery which meant she had to stay in longer than Nick.
Nick said: “While I was feeling better than ever, Pip was quite ill. I kept thinking ‘what have I put her through? Why did we do this?’, but she soon got better and things returned to normal.”
Since the surgery Nick said he feels like a new man. While he must take daily medication to prevent his body from rejecting the kidney, and have regular blood tests, his life is unaffected by the transplant. He travels the world with work and ensures he follows a healthy lifestyle to help with the longevity of the new kidney.
They will both also take on the Brecon Carreg CDF 10K in the Welsh capital on Sunday 1 September to raise money for Kidney Wales.
Pippa said: “They are such an amazing charity and we wanted to do what we could to support them. We also wanted to prove that transplants do work and that you can come out the other end and live a really positive life. We’re living proof of that and if we’re able to help just one family by sharing our story, that’s great.”
Nick added: “Life is now back to normal and I’m looking forward to doing the run. I hope that we can help raise awareness for Kidney Wales and also organ donors – the gift they give someone is just phenomenal.”
Kidney Wales is once again Lead Charity Partner of the Brecon Carreg CDF 10K. The charity, which does not receive any government funding and relies solely on generous donations, is dedicated to making a tangible difference to the lives of kidney patients in Wales every day. It offers essential guidance and support, funds critical research and provides financial assistance to help alleviate the burdens faced by those with kidney problems, so they can lead their best lives.
Ross Evans, Managing Director of Kidney Wales, said: “Individuals like Pippa and Nick are an inspiration to us all. We are so grateful that they are sharing their personal kidney journey to raise awareness and raise vital funds to support our kidney community here in Wales. Without their support in championing the cause the charity could not continue providing advice and guidance, supporting the wellbeing of patients, providing financial aid and funding groundbreaking research. Every penny raised makes an incredible difference in making a positive impact on the lives of those living with the daily battles of kidney disease and their families. Thank you Pippa and Nick!”
Matt Newman, Chief Executive at event organisers Run 4 Wales, added: “The runners who take part in our events are such an inspiration and we’re always in awe of their reasons for taking part. Nick and Pippa are supporting such a fantastic charity and we can’t wait to cheer them over the finish line in September.”
