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A8-The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, Match 14, 2006 Year after transplant couple going strong Anniversary marked with Canibbean trip By Stephanie Thiessen CANADIAN CHAMPION STAFF Last month, Audley and Audrey Johnston went on vacation in hon- our of a very special anniversary. Tbougb the couple's very much in love, it wasn't their 34-year marriage that was being celebrated. No, their trip 10 St. Kitts/Nevis in the Caribbean was to commemorate a life- sustaining operation that Audrey underwent a year ago when Audley gave her one of his kidneys. "Nothing was more important than cele- brating that anniversary," said Audley, 58. In january of lasi year, The Champion printed an article jusi weeks before the johnstons were to undergo the transplant. They were opîimistic, and had every reason to be. The operation was a success, and though both suffered some complications, they've now resumed their lives. With March being declared Kîdney Health Month by The Kîdney Foundation of Canada, the Johnstons see this as an ideal time t0 pick up their story wbere it was lefî off and belp increase public awareness. "(The" transplant) freed me up from dialy- sis and allows me a greater variety of foods," explained 58-year-old Audrey "My energy bas increased and 1 lead a more normal life." She said words can't descnibe ber grati- tude for ber husbands sacrifice. After ail, kid- ney transplants are known to be tougher on the donor than tbe recipient. "I can't thank bim enough. Hes the best in every way possible." But Audley's the firsî to0 admit bis sacrifice was for bimself as well. Witb the couple's children grown up and out of the bouse, he wanted t0 enjoy his lat- ter years with the love of bis life and do tbe tbings tbey'd neyer gotten around 10 before, be said. When his wife's kidneys failed, none of that was possible. She bad t0 go to0 the hospital three limes a week for four-and-a-balf bouts for dialysis and be bad t0 sit back and watcb her suifer. "Dialysis was bard on her. She passed out a lot," Audley said. According t0 The Kidney Foundation of Canada, kidney disease can strike anyone aI amy age. if kidney failure isn'î treated, deatb is certain. When kidneys fail, wastes and fluids accumnulate in the body and dialysis treat- IL- GRAMM PAIE I CANADI CIIAMION H&APPY COUKk Aue »M 's &"in MI f lS #mie drA afer hus- to her a yerno. ments - or a kidney transplant - are need- ed t0 dlean the blood. Kidney disease usually progresses silent- ly, often destroying most of tbe kidney func- lion before displaying any symptoms. Tbat's wby its important for people at risk of developing the disease to0 be evaluat- ed regularly, and esrly detection is impor- tant. Tbose at risk include people witb dia- betes - like Audrey - higb blood pressure and blood vessel diseases. When no symptoms appear, a blood or urine test can pinpoint kidney problems. Audrey said she firat knew something was wrong when she passed out during an awards dinner. Her doctor told ber she bad very high blood sugar levels and prescribed pilla, which sbe took for tbree yesrs. Tben, one Saturday moming, ber bus- band asked wbat was wrong wvitb ber. Sbe looked in tbe mirror and saw ber face was swollen, as were ber legs. After a trip t0 tbe bospital, Jobnston was told boîb of ber kid- neys were diseased, possibly because of the pills sbe'd heen taking, sbe ssid. If sbe'd known tbe sympîoms, sbe would've sought trestment sooner, sbe said. "I knew notbing about anything," she said. She encourages others t0 know the symptoms. Besides puffiness of the eyes, bands and feet, tbey include higb blood pressure; bloody, cloudy or tes-coloured urine; excessive foaming of tbe urine; fre- quent urination at night; less urine or diffi- culty passing tbe urine; fatigue; bass of appelite or weigbî and persistent general- ized itcbing. Lfe will neyer be as carefree as it once was for the Johnatons. Audrey bas t0 bave periodic bloodl tests as well as waîch ber diet strictly and sbe takes anti-rejection dnigs that bave some side effects. She said she also lives witb the constant fear ber body could suddenly reject the kid- ney, and bas to remain alert for symptoms. "I worry every day," sbe said. But overaîl, life is good. Very good. Shes able to once agamn live normally and do the îbings sbe enjoys. Sometbing Audley feels sîrongly about is tbe importance of donating ones organs. Tbe Kidney Foundation of Canada reported that more tban baîf tbe Canacliana on the waiîing list for a transplant are waiting for a kidney "If l'mn in a car accident, tbey're (organs) no good 10 me anymore. If I can give somne- one a cbance at life, wby not do il? One of the reasona we're bere is 10, belp others, Iî's a great îbing for anyone 10 conaider doing." For more information on kidney disease or organ donation, visit www.kidney.ca. Stephanie Thiessen can be reached at sthiessen@mîiltoncu.nadianchampion.com. WIVCOGECQ' Cogeco Cable Channel 14 lil LOCal imOVIOn Sap. roww mu -* mon s cousu 12: www.c@g.c@.ca .ý* - 6-m PAis M! mXTm ti.» I 6 ~ ~ Bon f Linonl I N"RY HATON STM DIO, HO RUin i ~~Câlcjipn 3m8.«mP n ! DMi n 14t Mu 7 ~ 200 n w Larier Plaza 500 Laurier Avenue Milton, ON 19T 4R3 905-878-9306 fAXill Programming Schedule - iesday, March 14- MondayMarch 20,2006 na 12006 iR P -t MN PHosiw MONIP 1 Pui XR 4.tmfi TRC sports IBA 7:0p - P*NW~ in! DMTR 1T-i0n IISpors TA 1 -Mn lWRnAn CaninSoici MaXOX Mann-XAn 1îdn t2TR 8.1»m MnInýT Pmags 1 tITRA AMCBTÇIm- n SPaRWZLTInNDii r ýp 7~- imn m« M 9:4- mm# ni 11m ho n i SU mi -~ u 1gdl' XTA Saturdaý March 18 Sundaý Marc h 19 rAcnday March 20