Prof Robert and Paula's Story
Professor Robert Sells, aged 81, originally from Leamington Spa, was diagnosed with renal failure in 2019 and found himself needing dialysis treatment at Glan Clwyd Hospital. The cause of his renal failure is thought to have been a rare allergy to medication for long-term treatment of acid reflux.
Prof Robert is a retired surgeon and the founder and Director of the Liverpool Transplant Unit from 1971 to 2003. He lived with his wife of over 40 years, Paula Sells, in Denbighshire at the time of a kidney transplant being suggested as a treatment option.
Paula, aged 72, felt that waiting for a suitable match from another donor may take too long. There are currently more than 6,000 people actively waiting for a transplant across the UK.
Paula took matters into her own hands and started the process of donating her kidney through the living kidney donation programme. This is where a living donor can donate a kidney to someone they know such as a family member or friend, or even someone they don’t know.
She said: “It was touch and go whether a transplant would be possible. Some of the kidney transplant team at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital had concerns due to our age and Robert had chest problems.
“Another transplant centre had actually rejected the transplant decision as tests showed there was a maximum tissue mismatch between us.
“We were fortunate that the Director of the Liverpool Transplant Unit, gave the casting vote in favour of the transplant, who pointed out that despite our age, we were both fit, active and wanted to enjoy life with our grandchildren.”
Preparations for her kidney donation began with thorough health checks, psychological assessments and discussions on how the tissue mismatch with increased risks of rejection for Prof Robert might be solved.
The life-changing transplant operation went ahead just a few months before the COVID-19 pandemic arrived.
After the operation, Paula said: “Amazingly, I had minimal pain from the operation and was discharged home in four days.
“The excellent care from nursing staff and humorous conversations with other patients on the ward made the short three days in hospital pass quickly.
“The abdominal keyhole incisions for the surgery healed fast and are now invisible. It took me longer to return back to my previous energy levels but I’m so glad we went ahead – the transplant completely changed our lives.
“Even a few of our family members were against the decision to go ahead with the transplant but I knew I wanted to gift my husband through this life-changing act.”
Nearly six years later, Prof Robert and Paula are still leading active lives, entirely thanks to the transplant.
Find out more information about the living kidney donation programme.