Hello, my name is Andrea and I am 28 years old. I was born in Hamburg in October 1992. Even before I was born, my parents knew that I would be born with a kidney disease. I have polycystic kidney disease and the physicians told my parents at the time that my kidneys wouldn't last long and that I would be dependent on dialysis as an infant. But that wasn't the case. My kidneys lasted until 2006, when I was 13 years old. Even though my kidneys worked on their own for the time being, there were restrictions for me as a child. I had to take medication from birth and I wasn't as fit and healthy as other children my age.

My mother actually wanted to donate a kidney to me

When my kidney values got worse in 2006, a kidney transplant was discussed. My parents and aunts were willing to donate at the time, but only my mother was considered as a donor. The transplant was scheduled for the summer of 2006. My mother was already in the operating theater and I was to be prepared. Shortly before the operation, an antibody test is always carried out (a final test directly before Tx). It turned out that my mother was not compatible as a donor after all. We were sent home again and given a drug to destroy the antibodies. But it didn't come to that: about a week after discharge, I spat up blood. We went to the hospital straight away. After a few examinations, it was clear that my liver was also affected by my underlying disease. It had hardened so much that blood could no longer pass through it and varicose veins had formed in the oesophagus. It quickly became clear that I also needed a new liver. So in 2006 I was put on the transplant list for a liver and a kidney. I was put on peritoneal dialysis and had to go to hospital regularly to have my varicose veins checked. I had to accept a lot of restrictions because of the varicose veins. I was not allowed to eat any "hard" or "sharp" foods such as bread rolls. I was also not allowed to eat acidic foods such as tomatoes and strawberries. I wasn't allowed to run or jump and always had to be careful. The worst thing for me was that I wasn't allowed to ride during that time. Riding was my hobby. The risk of the varicose veins opening up was simply too high.

Then came the redemptive phone call

I waited a little over a year for the two organs. At the end of September 2007, two days before my 15th birthday, the call came. I remember exactly, it was a Saturday evening and we had company over for dinner and my mother had just finished cooking when the phone rang. The first thing she said on the phone was: "We can't go, we've got a house full of visitors!" Of course, I was very upset and was picked up in the ambulance. The visitor quickly finished cooking the meal and ate in peace while we made our way to the hospital. A few more tests were carried out at the hospital and then we were off.