'That was some kidney your wife gave you,' docs tell St. Joe's man

Eric Pritchard is home and on the mend one month after receiving a living donor kidney from his wife Debbie. Debbie not only gave him love and the gift of life, but quality of life as well.

For 22 years, Eric has lived with IgA nephropathy.

His body's immune system was harming the kidney and over time, the kidney's filtration system fails to work. A healthy kidney filters creatinine and other waste products from the blood.

Eric had not been seriously ill or in the hospital before he was diagnosed with IgA. His one consistent symptom – a constant headache and high blood pressure. Blood test for creatinine levels told doctors Eric he had a kidney disease.

Once diagnosed with IgA, the life expectancy of a diseased kidney is 20 years.

"We maxed it out," Debbie said.

"There was no treatment such a pill that would slow the damage all I could do was maintain it the best we could such as diet," Eric said.

Two decades ago, there was no specialist in Sault Ste. Marie. Eric traveled to Sudbury every six months to be seen by a specialist and have blood work done.

Eric's kidney function declined to 8 per cent. The only course of treatment was dialysis or a transplant. Some have lived on dialysis for several years, Eric said, while others choose dialysis for a short term treatment and a transplant.

Only one-third of patients with IgA seek dialysis, Eric was told.

He didn't realize how sick he was, Debbie shared.

On Oct. 1, 2017, Eric started dialysis. He was first connected to two bag system, and later Automated Peritoneal Dialysis (APD).

"It was a better option for sure," he said."We were fortunate to be able to use the dialysis at home," he said.

Eric was concerned not only over the eight-hour inconvenience of dialysis, but the impact it was having on Debbie.

"It benefited Debbie to undergo the transplant, not as much as me because I was the sick one. But we can do things together again," he said. "We are not restricted such as traveling anymore."

Paperwork for a transplant had begun in September 2017 to see if a family member would be a good candidate. Had the administrative ducks been in place sooner, the transplant could have been performed sooner.

The first round of tests for Eric, Debbie and their son Stephen was carried out in London in April of 2018. Tests revealed that both Debbie and Stephen were matches.

"Doctors in London were freaking out," Eric said. "Very few people have more than one option. There are lots of people who don't have one option."

"Normally they tell you who gets to donate, but it came back to us to decide," Debbie said.

"Doctors said they were leaning toward Debbie, because if that kidney happens to fail or run out, our son is the next option," Eric said.

"If we used Stephen's kidney and it poops out in 10 years, Debbie is no longer an option because of age," he said.

For the first six months post surgery, Eric is still at risk to reject the kidney. He was told the average life expectancy of a live donor kidney is 15 to 18 years.

On Oct. 3 Eric, Debbie and Stephen headed for London. It was the first time in Eric's life he was away from home for more than one week.

"Doctors told me, ‘That was some kidney your wife gave you’, " he said, adding the kidney worked instantly.

"I don't know why but the donation has brought Debbie and I closer," he said. "I would give a kidney to my son in a minute but take one from him, no."

Willing to donate a kidney meant a great deal to Eric but it was the thoughtful act by his son to travel to London for two weeks looking his parents that means more than anything.

"Emotionally, you're actually a wreck afterwards," he said. "The first day Debbie came to visit, there were tears."

A spontaneous reaction, Debbie explained, because they had not seen each since undergoing the transplant.

Once Debbie's donated kidney was removed, doctors found a mysterious set of veins and arteries not found on imaging test that required mirco surgery.

One month later, Nov. 6, the couple returned to the St. Joseph Island to an overwhelming welcome home from Debbie's students, family and friends.

Eric meets with London doctors as scheduled via video conference and will return to London in one year.

The self-employed contractor has been off work since this past summer. While he is recovering, he will be building his strength back and is expected to return to work this coming spring.

Debbie, is an educational assistant at St. Joseph Island Central School, misses her students. She is still recuperating at home and will be returning to school when she receives the all clear from her doctor.

For months, friends and family followed the Pritchards on Facebook, through the trials and frustrations, the transplant surgeries and recovery progress. The couple is overwhelmed by countless well wishes, flowers, prayers, food, monetary donations and cards from those who cared for their home, pets and yard.

"All the support folks have given to us on this journey has been incredible," Debbie wrote on her Facebook page. "All I can say is, we love ya and thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We are certainly feeling all the love."

"That's when you appreciate living in a small town," Eric said added. "We just didn't go through this, the whole community did."

Eric is one of three Richards Landing gentlemen who have undergone a kidney transplant.

The three men grew up within a two-block area of Richards Landing. Two of the three men had the same disease and the third gentleman needed a second kidney transplant.

"An interesting find, but on a per capita base, it's shocking," Eric said.

Eric and Debbie want to thank their son, Stephen. The thoughtful act and the depths he went to cannot be measured, from driving to London to be with them, to dividing care and attention between his parents.

"He was there for us," Debbie said with tears in her eyes.