Kidney donation gave Sudbury woman second chance at life

Monique Larochelle was given a second chance at life when she received a kidney transplant May 20, 2011.

In 2006, Larochelle was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease, a hereditary condition that causes cysts to develop on the kidneys. The disease can eventually lead to kidney failure.

“I wasn't aware there was anything like this in the family,” Larochelle said.

Her father died when she was an infant, and her mother had lost touch with his family.

After she was diagnosed, Larochelle and her brother tracked down her father's family, and found out two of her aunts were on dialysis due to kidney failure.

Soon after her own diagnosis, Larochelle had to go on hemodialysis. She went to the hospital three times a week, and waited for four hours each visit while a machine filtered her blood. While she was on dialysis, Larochelle had to stop working, and needed to make strict lifestyle changes.

She had to limit the water she could drink each day, and even healthy foods like bananas – her favourite fruit – had to be cut back.

Larochelle was added to the kidney transplant waiting list in January 2011, and on May 20, she received a call from the London Health Sciences Centre that a kidney was waiting for her.

“I was very lucky,” she said.

Some people wait years before a compatible kidney becomes available. After her transplant, Larochelle was able to return to work as a school bus driver.

She must take anti-rejection medication every 12 hours, but said it's much better than the alternative of relying on hemodialysis to live.

On Sunday, Sept. 13, Larochelle will join her friends and family for the 2015 Kidney Walk at the Delki Dozzi Memorial Park.

The walk supports the Kidney Foundation of Canada, which works to improve the lives of all people affected by kidney disease through research, government advocacy, peer support, education and various programs.

Forty-one communities across Ontario will host similar walks throughout September and October.

To register for the walk, visit www.kidneywalk.ca.

The Sudbury walk is scheduled to start at 10 a.m.