Anniversary Of The Kidney Donation

And what a difference a year makes. Yes it on the 25th of August, only 2 days away, we will all celebrate the anniversary of the kidney donation. Quite a topical subject following the recent announcement on the news where the Government are considering paying for kidneys. What happened to that plan?

I am very pleased to say that both dad and myself now appear to be back to a 100% recovery. The kidney(my donnor kidney) is performing very well and my dad to date has suffered no set backs what so ever. Testimony perhaps to a fantastic team of surgeons and aftercare via Stobhill Clinic.

On behalf of my dad and I we would dearly like to thank all of the transplant team and a special thanks also to the renal team at Monklands Hospital for their fantastic support prior to the operation.

I've just remembered, and it seems funny to recollect, the week before the operation when my dad sprained his ankle and both mum and I had to support him into bed. We were all panic striken at the thought of the operation being cancelled but of course that didn't happen.

Dad is just back from Cambridge visiting my sister and I am also pleased to confirm that he went swimming with Elissa, his 2 year old grand daughter. Something he never thought he would ever be able to do. It was worth it all in the end and I never had any doubt.


So you will also all remember that we were raising funds for Yorkhill Children's Hospital in Glasgow and in particular their renal unit. I am very pleased to confirm that we raised (to date) £4746-00.

This is a little short of our £5000 figure that we hoped to achieve so if you are sitting reading this and have an emotional link or connection with the story or Yorkhill, then please do donate and help us get over the target.

Please also remember you can follow Block Architects on our Facebook Page by clicking here.

Online Auction - Invicta Watch - Yorkhill Children's Foundation

Here's a fantastic Auction Prize in aid of our Charity Yorkhill Children's Foundation and in Particular their Renal Unit.

Most of you will remember my Kidney Donation to my dad Hugh which happened on the 25th August 2010 and it was a huge success.

We have now raised £3445 for charity and wish to see this get to £4000 before Christmas.

So here's the deal. We are going to Auction this watch online NOW and will be doing so in £25 bids. The watch is kindly donated by Tom McCulloch of INVICTA UK and is currently valued at £200. Bidding will close at 12:00 mid day on Friday 17th Dec 2010, just in time for Christmas.

This will make a fantastic Christmas Present for any gent. Do we have £50 to start the bidding?

Just Add your bid as a comment below or email me and I'll add it for you.

Please 'Like' The Invicata Facebook Page by clicking here.

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#thekidneydonation - Raising Money For Yorkhill Children's Foundation

Meet Lucas - We Want You To Help Him...

22 month old Lucas suffers from a rare bone disease.... To Read more please click on the link to find out how Yorkhill Children's Foundation help and assists kids like ours...


To understand how your donations will help kids like Lucas please click here


I've just put our two healthy daughter's to bed. Lucas is not quite so fortunate. Please donate now to our charity via www.justgiving.com/kenneth-martin

Kidney Transplant Update

I haven't posted much on this topic recently. Quite simply the transplant was delayed due to a question regarding my dad's health related to his heart condition.

WELL, I am glad to say that today we have received a Green light from the surgeons and it's full steam ahead.

Everything going well and with no further set backs I am looking at going under the knife in August and then hopefully this will allow dad to return to health, or as close as can be expected.

I am quite excited at the prospect of better health for my Dad and hope that when this is all over he can finally spend quality time with the whole family including his 3 grand daughters. I will keep you all posted, now that there is something to post about.

Kidney Transplant Update

I thought I would drop a quick update blog re the Kidney Transplant. Dad was back in hospital earlier this week getting a wee operation on his heart. All is well and nothing to worry about with this but because of this unforseen operation the Transplant Team have decided to put the operation back until early next year. Nonetheless we are keeping our spirits high knowing that Christmas will be a good one!

Kidney Update

Returned today from a hospital visit at Stobhill where the surgeon's explained to my Dad and I and of course our good ladies (mum and Sandra) exactly what the next stages of the transplant process are.

In simple terms both Dad and I need to speak to an independent assesor to ensure that we are fully aware of what we are undertaking and thereafter we can firm up on a date. It would appear thereafter that the Surgeons have 6 months to carry out the transplant however, it looks like things may be set for November.

I will only need one Kidney!

Yes that’s right I like most people only need one kidney so that’s why I have decided to give the other one to my dad. That’s him (Hugh) in the picture. The picture was taken on my wedding day at Auchen Castle, Moffat.

Dad has been ill for almost 10 years and despite the fact that he is extremely well and has a long life expectancy his quality of life is not what it should be. He is a youthful man all things considered. Dad now has 3 grand daughters all under the age of 2 and has a lot to look forward to.

After careful discussion with my wife, Sandra we agreed just over a year ago that I would put my name forward for a transplant. On the day that I called Dad’s nurse to enquire how to go about it, I got a tearful call from Mum. Dad was in hospital with a suspected heart attack! Granted he drove himself to the hospital! Make your own mind up about what scenario is most worrying. As it turned out Dad actually had an Angina attack but as such he was removed from the Transplant List.

I continued with the initial testing and this has been going on for just over a year. The testing included blood screening and matching and general health and well being discussions and thereafter we needed to wait for Doctors to confirm that Dad’s health was ok to go forward with the Transplant ie put him back on the list. Even although I am a live donor he still needs to be on the list. Dad and I met the Surgeon about 2 months ago and he agreed that Dad was ok to go back on the list, although associated risks would be higher.

Over the last month I have undergone a Kidney function test, assessing the efficiency of both of my kidneys and I did last week undergo an MRI scan to assess the entry and exit of the main blood vessels in and out of the Kidney. The function test went well but we still await the results of the MRI scan.

Everything going well we hope to be under the knife before Christmas.

I have decided to blog about our journey through this period because I think it may help other people in a similar situation. Likewise, I would be happy to hear from anyone who has been in a similar situation and have them add their particular experience or, comment on my own story.

Keep checking for further updates.

Kenneth