James Stevenson calls himself a cat with nine lives. Diagnosed with failing kidneys as a boy in the 1950s, he was not expected to live beyond two years, at a time when dialysis did not exist and no kidney transplant had yet been performed. With his mother’s determination and a radical diet change, James stayed well for 14 years. In August 1974, in Johannesburg, his twin brother Archie gave him a kidney, in the early days of transplantation, before anti-rejection drugs were available. Today, James, 81 years old, is still going strong, and he marks every August as his kidneyversary. In his own words, he feels lucky to be alive, and his one-word description of transplant says it all: reborn.

1. Which organ did you receive, and in what year?
I received a kidney transplant in 1974 at Johannesburg General Hospital.

2. How long were you on the waiting list for your organ?
Didn’t wait, as I was dying and almost left it too late; my twin brother gave me a kidney.

3. What was life like before the transplant? How did you spend your days?
I was sick and could do very little for myself. Very high blood pressure and had to sleep upright.

4. Describe the emotions experienced when you were told your donor is a match?
Very relieved and I was lucky to be a twin.

5. What is life like now, after the transplant?
I got my life back.

6. What advice would you give patients on the waiting list?
Life for patients on the waiting list can be very difficult, but to try and stay positive and not to give up hope.

7. What do you think will improve donation rates?
Making it mandatory that you must opt out of being a donor would help. Also, making people aware that you can live a normal long life with only one kidney.

8. If you could describe transplant in one word, what would it be?
Reborn.