Danielle Melvin

I am taking on Kidney Care UK's October Dog Walk

On the 28th November 2023 I had a blood test. I had been feeling sick for a few weeks and although GP and I thought it was nothing, just a stomach bug, as a precaution I was sent to have my bloods tested at 17:45. By 04:00, I was called on my mobile by the hospital, informing me I had to get to A&E immediately. When I arrived in A&E, they told me they thought that there had been a mix up with my bloods, as I wouldn’t have been in any fit state to walk in by myself and that they would redo the bloods and confirm and send me home. I had my test straight away within minutes and 15 minutes later, while sat in the waiting room I was called up and led onto a bed, with someone walking alongside fitting a drip in my arm. After some questions and further attachments to continue to monitor me, the Dr asked if I had anyone at home. Explaining I had a 13 year old and a 14 year old, but that they would be catching bus for school shortly and fine until later. The Dr explained I would need to get someone to take care of them. Rambling something about my mother could give them dinner tonight and pick up from school. The Dr corrected my understanding and said, “you will be in hospital for weeks. You have kidney failure”. I still didn’t believe it at that point and thought it just needed treating, but 2 days later they started to talk about dialysis to me and told me I needed a transplant. I came out of hospital on the afternoon of Christmas Eve, but had to be back in Boxing Day to start training for home dialysis. I have been doing 8 hours of dialysis since then everyday.

I am now in hospital again as my dialysis has started to be ineffective, but thankfully I have a donor kidney and a transplant arranged for 11th September. I will therefore be completing this challenge during my recovery using a treadmill as I am in isolation and high immunosuppressants to raise funds for this charity. So many are infected with this disease and don’t know, which if they did, they could take action to prevent it progressing. There currently is no cure, but we are on the cusp of medical breakthrough.

This year, I’m stepping up for the October Dog Walking Challenge in support of Kidney Care UK, the leading patient support charity for people living with kidney disease. Millions of people in the UK are affected, and too many face the journey alone. Kidney Care UK is there to make sure they don’t have to.

I’m walking 32.5 miles with my dog to help raise funds for vital services, from counselling and patient grants to expert advice and advocacy. Your donation will help ensure no one has to face kidney disease without support.

Please give what you can and cheer me on as I take on this challenge during my transplant recovery. Any amount I will be grateful for.