Living with Renal Failure

Living with Renal Failure: Tony Marvelly

Tony Marvelly delivered music to the stars before kidney failure dramatically changed his life.

Rowan Atkinson, Radiohead, Bonnie Tyler and Max Boyce were among the celebrity customers of Tony's piano delivery business, in which the music machines he moved around the UK were sometimes worth more than most people's houses.

But Tony had to give up work in 1997 when both his kidneys failed, and instead of travelling the country meeting the rich and famous, his life is now dictated to by dialysis.

And because of other medical complications, he is resigned to living out the rest of his life like that. I can't have a transplant, so I shall have to remain on dialysis, said Tony, 61, who lives in Llansamlet, Swansea.

My life has changed enormously in the last eight years, and from moving pianos about I couldn't even pick up a mouth-organ now.

Being on dialysis is like leading two lives it's like losing three days of your life every week. But on my days off my good days I call them my wife Carol and I pack in as much as we can to make up for it.

You just learn to get on with it and make the most of what you have.
 

Living with Renal Failure - Helena Jones

IF anyone knows what it's like to live with children on kidney dialysis it 's Helena Jones.

The grandmother from Glynneath has five children - four of them with kidney disease. "I know what the call to say a donor organ has been found means - it changes eveything." said Helena

Thankfully after many years of campaigning and fundraising for Kidney Research all four children have had successful transplants and had thier lives back.

Robert 43, Wayne 41, Richard 39 and Helen 39 are very thankful for their gift of life. Helen only received her transplant in January after spending five years on dialysis, waiting for a call to say that a donor had been found.

"Two of my children were fortunate in receiving transplants fairly quickly, but Richard endured a long wait and Helens was even longer. Robert received his 11 years ago, Wayne 4 years and Richard 2 and Helen in January 2006. It's heart breaking watching your children waiting for suitable organs to be found, I know, I have seen first hand the devastating effect it has on the family. My family has been very lucky and I am very, very indebted to the donors who have kindly given my sons and daughter a second chance at life." said Helena.

Helena has masterminded national campaigns encouraging people to sign to up for organ donation, "I will continue to support Organ Donation, there are many who need our support. My family is finally looking forward and planning for the future, it's a great feeling."