A Tale of Two Transplants: An Inspiring Story of Two Living Donor Transplants

Maureen Connelly, RN

Oct. 17th is a day John Allen will always remember as a cause for celebration. He received both his living donor transplants on this day 31 years apart.

Oct. 17, 1991: When his father Sam was 74 years old he gave him his 1st kidney. His father lived on for many years after kidney donation and recently passed away after a life well lived at age 105!

John: My journey to renal failure started when I was six with a minor urinary tract operation that resulted in a serious infection which eventually led to the removal of a kidney at the age of eighteen. My Dad was keenly aware of my renal issues over the years, but it was my renal failure and subsequent dialysis in spring 1991, that started the search for the best treatment for renal failure. The nephrology team at St. Michaels recommended a living donor transplant as the best option. All family members were tested and Dad was the best match. On October 17, 1991 my 74-year-old father donated a kidney to his 45-year-old son.

Maureen: We know the kidney from your father lasted for an incredible 30 years. What happened next?

Oct. 17, 2022: His sister in law Gay Taraby gave him his second living donor kidney. Gay lives in Montreal and is a managing partner at Frylow Quebec.

Maureen: John, my colleagues and I extend our sympathy to you and your family on the loss of your father. Please tell us about your father.

John: My Dad was born on a small farm in Northern Ireland and emigrated to Canada (Montreal) in 1938 at the age of 21. His eldest sister worked for a garment manufacturer who offered to train my Dad in the clothing business. Thirty years later, Dad bought the business after the passing of the owner.

Maureen: Please tell our readers how and when you were diagnosed with kidney problems.

John: Fast-forward 30 years and I was experiencing renal failure once again. I commenced dialysis in June of 2021 and once again a transplant from a living donor was presented as the best option. My sister-in-law is very close to my wife and me and she became aware that our quality of life would improve dramatically with a kidney transplant. After extensive consultations with her husband and Living Donor Coordinator RN Kevin Bradley, she volunteered to give the greatest gift one person can give to another. On October 17th, thirty-one years to the day after my first transplant, I received another transplant and from a non-blood relative.

Maureen: Tell us about your sister in law who was your 2nd donor.

John: She’s the youngest of 4 children, two sisters and a brother. She had a very successful career in the swimwear, restaurant supply and golf industries. This is where her passion for golf developed and takes every opportunity to be on the golf course.

She loves being around family; as a great aunt she often takes out her nephews and niece on picnics in the summer and skiing in the winter. She’s also a wonderful sister who decided on her own, to become a donor.

Maureen: After a successful teaching career, how is life for you now post retirement?

John: Post-transplant life is so much more enjoyable. I have much more energy and time and food tastes so much better. Soon we’ll be able to visit my sister-in-law in Montreal and spend time with the rest of the family.

Dialysis is a life-saving treatment but a kidney transplant represents a new life with a future. Finding a living a compatible living donor can take some time and effort but the results can be life altering.

Maureen: Gay ; Please share with our readers how you arrived at your decision to be a kidney donation?

Gay: When I knew that Terry and John were “putting their affairs in order”, I was heartbroken.

I spoke to my husband Mike about offering myself as a possible donor to John, knowing that our blood types were a match. We did some research including speaking with two friends who were kidney recipients. We asked them about the process and impact on not only their lives but also their donors. There weren’t any negatives – it all lead to positive outcomes for everyone.

I worried about John’s quality of life and in turn, how it affected my sister. Once Mike and I realized that my quality of life would be unchanged and knowing that John’s Dad lived to 105 with only 1 kidney, I felt very comfortable proceeding as a potential donor. I genuinely feel grateful that I was able to help John and am overjoyed knowing how he feels today and how he and Terry are now able to plan their future with excitement!

Maureen: Gay, thank you so much for sharing your kidney donation journey with us. John, thank you for a personal glimpse into your experience of having not one but two living donors who impacted your quality of life in such a positive way.

Emily Campbell and Tess Montada-Atin Win a Research Grant!

Kidney transplant recipients are at increased risk of developing diabetes after their kidney transplant because of anti-rejection medications and steroid use. Glucagon like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) are a specific type of diabetes medications (e.g. Liraglutide, Semaglutide, etc.) that helps with diabetes control and weight loss but kidney transplant recipients have sometimes been excluded from large clinical trials. As a result, Emily Campbell, registered dietitian and Tess Montada-Atin, nurse practitioner have been awarded an Interprofessional Based Practice Research grant looking at GLP-1RA medications in kidney transplant patients. Emily and Tess will be working with Dr’s Darren Yuen, Ron Wald and Kevin Yau to support the study over the next two years.