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Version 1 | Version 2 |
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Making life count after transplant | Making life count after transplant |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Anna-Marie Lever Health reporter, BBC News Advertisement | Anna-Marie Lever Health reporter, BBC News Advertisement |
Rod Lenette: 'After seeing friends die, it has made me realise I have to live my life the full'. | Rod Lenette: 'After seeing friends die, it has made me realise I have to live my life the full'. |
Former world arm wrestler champion Rob Lenette has been given a second life. | Former world arm wrestler champion Rob Lenette has been given a second life. |
"This time last year I was coming up to my fifth year of dialysis. Waiting for a kidney transplant was like treading water in the middle of the ocean," he says. | "This time last year I was coming up to my fifth year of dialysis. Waiting for a kidney transplant was like treading water in the middle of the ocean," he says. |
Rod's kidney failure occurred as a side effect of acquired lipodystrophy. A disease he developed when he was three years old and causes severe fat loss and diabetes. | Rod's kidney failure occurred as a side effect of acquired lipodystrophy. A disease he developed when he was three years old and causes severe fat loss and diabetes. |
He received a kidney transplant last November at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge. | He received a kidney transplant last November at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge. |
"I got the call that a kidney was available at 7am on the way to dialysis. By 7pm I was in the operating theatre getting it wacked in." | "I got the call that a kidney was available at 7am on the way to dialysis. By 7pm I was in the operating theatre getting it wacked in." |
Part time job | Part time job |
Rod describes his dialysis as a 'part time job', having to spend hour on hour hooked up to a machine. Over the years he made friends with the patients in the beds next door. | Rod describes his dialysis as a 'part time job', having to spend hour on hour hooked up to a machine. Over the years he made friends with the patients in the beds next door. |
"Those guys were great; we used to have a good laugh." | "Those guys were great; we used to have a good laugh." |
However, for some, a transplant never came. | However, for some, a transplant never came. |
"That person I used to talk to - he died. It really made me realise I have to live my life the full. Every day is a history day." | "That person I used to talk to - he died. It really made me realise I have to live my life the full. Every day is a history day." |
For Rob, making everyday count means enjoying time with his three children, "I want to be the proper dad I have always wanted to be over the last five years, some of my children have never seen me well." | For Rob, making everyday count means enjoying time with his three children, "I want to be the proper dad I have always wanted to be over the last five years, some of my children have never seen me well." |
Arm wrestler champ | Arm wrestler champ |
As former world arm wrestler champion, Rod has a lot of trophies | As former world arm wrestler champion, Rod has a lot of trophies |
He is also determined to turn his hobby into a job. Before his illness Rod was British, European and world arm wrestler champion. He hopes it may be possible to reach the top in the sport again and is training hard. | He is also determined to turn his hobby into a job. Before his illness Rod was British, European and world arm wrestler champion. He hopes it may be possible to reach the top in the sport again and is training hard. |
"I can do more now than I could two months ago - and hopefully in two months, twice as much as I am doing now - if everything goes to plan I will be back where I was." | "I can do more now than I could two months ago - and hopefully in two months, twice as much as I am doing now - if everything goes to plan I will be back where I was." |
He has started hosting arm wrestling championships in his local town of Bedford and is working on an invention, 'The Grappler' to turn arm wresting into an all body sport. | He has started hosting arm wrestling championships in his local town of Bedford and is working on an invention, 'The Grappler' to turn arm wresting into an all body sport. |
Opt-out | Opt-out |
His thoughts of the untraceable person who donated their kidney, allowing him this second chance, are never far away. | His thoughts of the untraceable person who donated their kidney, allowing him this second chance, are never far away. |
"Without them I wouldn't be sitting here today. I want to thank that family." | "Without them I wouldn't be sitting here today. I want to thank that family." |
Around 1,000 people in the UK die waiting for a transplant every year. Rod knows too well that he is one of the lucky ones. | Around 1,000 people in the UK die waiting for a transplant every year. Rod knows too well that he is one of the lucky ones. |
"People are inherently lazy. They may want to donate their organs but never get round to getting a card. Organs are just going to waste. I want an opt-out system." | "People are inherently lazy. They may want to donate their organs but never get round to getting a card. Organs are just going to waste. I want an opt-out system." |
Last November Prime Minister Gordon Brown's call for presumed consent, where registration would be automatic but with an opt-out, was rejected by the UK Organ Donation Taskforce. | Last November Prime Minister Gordon Brown's call for presumed consent, where registration would be automatic but with an opt-out, was rejected by the UK Organ Donation Taskforce. |
They said that assuming organs could be used unless people opted out was unlikely to boost donation rates. | They said that assuming organs could be used unless people opted out was unlikely to boost donation rates. |
Instead, a £4.5m public awareness campaign was announced for England aimed at boosting voluntary donor numbers. | Instead, a £4.5m public awareness campaign was announced for England aimed at boosting voluntary donor numbers. |
The situation will be re-assessed in 2013. Rod will be watching and hoping for a change in the law. | The situation will be re-assessed in 2013. Rod will be watching and hoping for a change in the law. |