PKD: Montrealers saved by kidney transplant urge others to consider becoming live donors
Posted April 29, 2023 6:12 pm.
Last Updated April 29, 2023 6:22 pm.
Marwan Batri calls it his second chance at life.
The Montrealer, who had polycystic kidney disease (PKD), received a kidney transplant in 2017.
“A huge blessing,” he said.
It’s National Organ Donation Awareness Week and many suffering with PKD are some of the thousands on waiting lists for a new organ.
Batri’s experience with the disease was affecting every aspect of his life. Everything changed once he received his kidney from someone who passed away.
“I felt like more energy and I felt like more kind of capable of doing my day to day chores and anything else, and it was definitely a boost,” he said.
Marwan Batri, left, who received a kidney transplant in 2017, with his surgeon. (Submitted by: Marwan Batri)
PKD is the most common genetic disease of the kidney, in which cysts grow in the kidneys. It’s one of the leading causes of people reaching kidney failure and needing dialysis or a transplant. It can also affect other organs like the liver or brain.
Constant fatigue and nausea are among the more crippling symptoms.
“For people with polycystic kidney disease, unfortunately, there is no cure at this time,” said nephrologist Dr. Ahsan Alam. “And so those who have this disease, there are many who are going to progress to kidney failure.
“Unfortunately, people on dialysis may not live as long a life as people who get a kidney transplant. So having the opportunity to get a kidney transplant is probably the best treatment we have for kidney failure. And a living donor transplant gives the best outcomes.”
Marwan Batri, left, who received a kidney transplant in 2017, at a PKD walk. (Submitted by: Marwan Batri)
MORE ON PKD:
- Quebec woman gets second chance at life thanks to social media campaign
- Montrealer with kidney disease can’t have children until transplant, waiting to find donor
Marco Ferrazzano received a kidney transplant for his PKD – and it came from a total stranger.
“Helping someone is just unbelievable. I don’t know how to thank her,” said Ferrazzano.
“Saving a life is something that is totally priceless. And you’re not saving one person’s life. You’re saving a family – the wife, husband, children, all are impacted directly by that.”
Ferrazzano is one of several members of his family diagnosed with PKD: his aunt, uncle, son and cousins have the disease as well.
“When your kidneys are about to die, or you’re about to go on dialysis, a lot of chemicals end up accumulating in your body because they’re not being filtered out by kidneys,” he said. “And therefore, you become very tired, very sore.
“I was 47 years old, and I felt like I was like 97.”
WATCH: Quebecer gets life-saving kidney transplant after social media campaign
Ferrazzano ultimately found a live donor through a social media plea, receiving a kidney from a selfless stranger.
“It’s been a year and a month, my life is fully normal. I have no problem at all,” he said. “I work out, I spend my day. I can work, I can do things.”
Dr. Alam, who’s also the director of the PKD clinic at the Royal Victoria Hospital, says “studies have shown that people who are living donors can live as long as anybody else in the population.”
Anyone considering becoming a living donor can visit this website.
