2 of 12

Nel family:

Photo taken in June 2018, just before Tanya’s diagnosis.

3 of 12

Recent photo of the Nel family:

2 kidney transplants and 2 kidney donations later

4 of 12

Annatjie & Mia:

After their transplant operation in May 2024.

Mia’s transplant was done before she had to start dialysis.

5 of 12

Paul & Tanya:

After their operation in June 2021.

Tanya was on dialysis for 3 years.
Tests took about a year to be completed, to determine if Paul is a suitable donor for Tanya.

6 of 12

Annatjie & Paul Nel:

Gave their daughters a chance of having a better quality of life free from dialysis.

Their story is unique, as it is not often that both parents are able to donate.

7 of 12

The Nel Family started a Facebook page where they document the girls progress and explain more about their rare disease as well as what they have to go through everyday.

For more information please visit their Facebook page:

Tanya & Mia's journey: Our life with a rare disease

8 of 12

Life with kidney failure:

Stella receives hemodialysis 3 times a week for 4 hours per session.
Dialysis treatment for the past 13 years.
Had 4 potential donors, all have been declined due to their kidney function not being adequate for donation.
12 years on the transplant waiting list for a kidney.

9 of 12

Patient with End stage kidney or liver failure:

The patient with kidney or liver failure first gets evaluated to establish if they are a suitable candidate for a transplant.
Unfortunately not all patients will qualify for a transplant due to other medical conditions, home environment or other factors that will prevent them from receiving a transplant.
Kidney is placed in the lower abdomen, non-functioning kidneys are usually not removed.
Liver is removed and lobe is transplanted in the same location.

Donor needs to do various tests before a transplant

If the patient is approved for organ donation, the tests for the donor will commence.
Various test are undertaken to determine if the donor is able to donate a kidney or part of the liver.
Only 1 out of 10 potential donors will be able to donate a kidney.
Not all potential donors are suitable to donate a kidney. They may be healthy, but to suitable to donate or live with just one kidney.

10 of 12

Kidney transplant

Transplanted kidney is place in lower abdomen and recipients kidneys are not removed, unless they are causing health issues.

Source: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/kidney-failure/kidney-transplant

11 of 12

TELL features stories of living donors on our website and social media

12 of 12

tell.org.za

@tellorgza

Website:

Social Media

E-mail:�

info@tell.org.za