A chance meeting at St Vincent’s dialysis unit forges a lifelong friendship

Pictured above: Gita (left) and Ruth

Ruth and Gita first met just over four years ago at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne’s dialysis unit. When they arrived for their first session, they recalled feeling a little nervous as they entered the treatment room.

“It was pretty daunting coming to terms with what was happening,” said Ruth.

As the pair sat down next to each other, they had no idea about the incredible bond they would develop while navigating one of the most challenging journeys of their lives.

When they first learned they needed a kidney transplant, both Ruth and Gita immediately went on the waiting list, hoping that a donor match would come their way soon. They started dialysis and attended like clockwork – on the same day, at the same place, at the same time, for three sessions a week.

“We were there for hours and would spend the time just talking about everything, including our fears. I loved how we made each other laugh. It was reassuring to have Ruth to talk to; she understood what I was feeling because she was going through it, too,” said Gita.

“We found solace in each other, and our friendship gave us strength.”

Both experienced hurdles along the way. Ruth, whose kidney had sustained long-term scarring from a medication she’d been taking previously for another condition, suffered a mild heart attack while having a permacath (a flexible tube inserted surgically for dialysis treatment) fitted.

“The doctors and nurses at St Vincent’s looked after me so well. It was really comforting to have that kind of support,” Ruth said.

Gita said the news that her kidneys were failing came as a complete shock. She was in her early forties and had a young son.

“Initially, they thought it was a stomach infection but later they found that I had vasculitis, an autoimmune condition which eventually led to kidney failure,” said Gita, who also had pneumonia as a result that saw her admitted to ICU and undergo emergency dialysis.

After almost a year on haemodialysis, Gita decided to switch to peritoneal dialysis so she could do her treatment at home at night.

“I found that I was completely drained after the haemodialysis sessions and just didn’t have the energy for my son. Even though I now had to have the dialysis every day, I found the peritoneal dialysis gentler as it took place over night, and I’d wake up feeling bit more refreshed. It made it easier for me to get things done during the day but did mean I had to be home by 10pm to start the therapy, so going out with friends would often get cut short,” said Gita.

Although they were no longer seeing each other during dialysis sessions, Ruth and Gita continued to chat regularly and would catch up and support each other through the various emotions they experienced along the way.

A tale of two transplants

Pictured above: Ruth and Gita with Tzu-Fei Hong, Nuala Barker and Julia Shao from SVHM's Dialysis Unit

The pair had talked about how wonderful it would be if they had their transplants together, so they could be there to care for each other.

“I remember getting a call from Gita. She said, ‘you’ll never guess where I am,’. She was at St Vincent’s, where she was about to have her kidney transplant. I was just over the moon for my dear friend,” said Ruth.

While Gita was recovering Ruth would visit to keep her company.

“I remember coming into her room one day and saying, ‘you’ll never guess why I am here today’,” recalled Ruth of when she told Gita she, too, was at the hospital for a kidney transplant.

Gita and Ruth had their transplants one week apart at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne. They were excited to share this important milestone together.

“We’d go to one another’s rooms while we were recovering in hospital and kept each other company. There was no keeping us apart,” said Ruth.

After being discharged, they arranged to meet when they were feeling stronger for a celebratory lunch.

Thinking back to life before the transplant, Ruth recalls long periods when she felt constantly tired and rundown.

“I wasn’t sleeping very well, either. The dialysis would drain me, but I knew it was what I had to do to stay alive. Since the transplant I have a lot more energy and can finally travel again,” said Ruth.

Gita said the transplant has opened up the opportunity to do the things she previously couldn’t with her family due to her health issues.

“I have a new perspective on life; you never know what is going to happen, so enjoy every single day and be positive,” said Gita.

Both Ruth and Gita feel extremely grateful to their donors who have provided them with a second chance at life.

St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne manages the care of more than 300 dialysis patients and in the past two years, close to 50 kidney transplants have been completed.

To register as an organ donor, visit: https://www.donatelife.gov.au/register-donor-today.