"You just have to make the best of the situation"
Marcel, 21 years old, kidney transplant since 2013 and back on dialysis for a year now
My name is Marcel, I am 21 years old and I had a kidney transplant at the age of 13. When I was six years old, I was diagnosed with chronic renal failure. In 2011, it became clear that a transplant was the only option for me. From that point on, I had to go on dialysis and was put on the transplant waiting list. I can still remember that I was usually still quite fit after dialysis, so I sometimes went straight to the sports field after I got home.
The waiting time for a suitable donor kidney was relatively short, after "only" 1.5 years I was able to be transplanted.
What changed after the transplant...
After the transplant, my physical abilities in particular increased. For example, I was able to do much more sport and for longer. Of course, it also changed that I only had to go to hospital once a month for check-ups, which also had a positive effect on school. However, not everything has gone smoothly in recent years, and unfortunately there have always been complications...
How I'm doing today...
Today I'm doing well under the circumstances, but unfortunately I've been back on dialysis for a year and am once again on the waiting list for a donor kidney. Despite this, I am relatively resilient and can still do sport. As my usual activities such as table tennis and soccer are not possible at the moment, I have now switched to home workouts and darts.
After finishing school last year, I actually wanted to start an apprenticeship as an office management assistant - but Corona unfortunately put a spanner in the works. However, I'm still in contact with the company and will probably be able to start the apprenticeship as soon as the situation eases.
What I wish for the future...
I definitely hope that I can live much longer with the second kidney than with the first and that there won't be as many complications as there were with the first.
I'm proud of that...
In any case, that despite this serious illness and everything that goes with it, I've managed to finish school and also have a professional future.
That's what I want to tell others...
You just have to make the best of the situation. It sounds easier than it is, but if you really believe that you will get a kidney, then it can only be good. Just don't fall into a hole and always talk about it with family and friends, because they are the best people to talk to in a situation like this.