Chris Madden thought he was just busy, but a shocking diagnosis changed everything for him and his family.
Edinburgh: Chris Madden’s life took a wild turn. He was a healthy dad, but then he started having these awful headaches. They felt like his head might explode. It was tough, especially during Covid when he couldn’t see a doctor in person.
After months of phone calls, he finally got to see a GP. They discovered his blood pressure was sky-high. That led to a trip to the Royal Infirmary, where doctors found his kidneys were barely working. He was in shock.
Chris learned he had IgA nephropathy, a rare kidney disease. He needed dialysis right away. Imagine going from a busy dad to needing treatment three times a week. It was a lot to handle.
He felt exhausted all the time, missing out on playing with his kids. But then, a year later, he got a call that changed everything. A living donor was ready to give him a kidney. What a relief!
Chris was over the moon. He had the surgery and, thankfully, the kidney worked perfectly. He could finally be the dad he wanted to be again. He even got to meet his donor, which was an emotional experience.
Now, Chris is back to enjoying life. He’s even joined a football team for transplant patients. They train together and support each other. It’s a great way to stay active and connected.
Chris is looking forward to competing in the European Transplant Football Championship. He’s grateful for the second chance at life and wants to make the most of it with his family.
