IT HAS been two years since Mount Gambier resident and DonateLife campaigner Kimberley Telford became the first person in South Australia to receive a groundbreaking dual kidney and pancreas organ transplant after living with Type 1 diabetes for 16 years.
The surgery was performed on August 12, 2018 at the Royal Adelaide Hospital after Ms Telford experienced kidney failure as a result of the disease and was on peritoneal dialysis in Mount Gambier.
Ms Telford waited on dialysis for around six months before undergoing the state’s first combined kidney and pancreas transplant with the lifesaving procedure gave her a second chance at life.
Her health battle and milestone achievement were not forgotten by staff involved in the procedure at Royal Adelaide Hospital, with the team sending flowers to Ms Telford yesterday on the two-year anniversary of her operation.
Grateful for the selflessness of organ donors, Ms Telford reflected on her own personal experience and the impact it had on her everyday life.
“It saved my life and made a huge impact on it,” Ms Telford said.
“My illness affected me more than I ever expected and now I see the benefits of it and want to encourage everyone to look into it.”
Ms Telford explained her wellbeing had improved in the past two years as a result of the surgery, now engaged in more family life activities and able to work longer hours.
“It has had its ups and downs but I am lucky with how I have progressed compared to some,” she said.
“It was difficult in the first few months for everybody involved not just myself but family wise as well but we are getting there.”
No longer a diabetic, Ms Telford said she did not require needles or regular blood sugar level checks, adding her energy levels had also increased significantly.
“One of the first things I noticed was that I could walk up stairs without being exhausted or it being a big deal,” she said.
“But there are other little things like when packing to go away I do not have to take as much stuff such as the copious amounts of medication.”
Royal Adelaide Hospital transplant medicine director Professor Toby Coates said it was a brave thing to be the first person to undergo an operation which had never been performed before and the team knew Ms Telford would be the perfect patient.
“It is a delight to see her doing so well,” Professor Coates said.
“The operation took six-and-a-half hours and resulted in Kimberley being cured of her type one diabetes while the transplanted organs still work perfectly to this day.
“I would like to take the opportunity to thank all donor families for making life changing surgeries like this possible.”
Ms Telford said the unexpected flower delivery was a pleasant surprise.
“I was thinking it was going to be a quiet day at work but I am so overwhelmed with the flowers which were a lovely surprise,” she said.
Those wishing to register as an organ donor can do so through the DonateLife website.
