A surprise phone call, a last-minute flight and a reunion at a hospital door led to a life-changing moment for Shepparton’s Nora McCarthy 20 years ago.
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In 1989, Nora had a pregnancy test and realised there was blood in her urine.
Doctors told her the blood was coming from her kidney.
“But they couldn’t do anything about it because I was pregnant … I was very sick,” she said.
Nora’s baby was three months old by the time she was able to get a biopsy in Melbourne.
Both of her kidneys were infected, and she went on medication.
She started dialysis in 2000.
“I had my dialysis three days a week,” Nora said.
According to the Kidney Health Australia website, dialysis helps manage kidney failure by filtering out toxins, wastes and extra fluid.
Each dialysis session took four hours and was difficult to manage, while Nora continued working and caring for her husband, Bill, who had prostate cancer.
“My husband was already sick, and then I was having dialysis, and I was still working, because my boys were in uni,” she said.
“I had dialysis for five-and-a-half years before I had a kidney transplant on March 15, 2006; it was the first day of the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.”
Nora almost missed the call from the Royal Melbourne Hospital, as staff there didn’t have her work number.
Luckily, Nora’s youngest son was at home at the time, with two weeks off school during the Commonwealth Games.
Her son directed the call to Nora’s work.
The doctor told her, “We’re looking for Nora McCarthy because we’ve got a kidney for her.”
The doctor went on to say, “If you want to accept it, you have to leave Shepparton right now.”
But Nora didn’t know how she could get to Melbourne.
“My problem was the transport,” she said.
“My boss took me home, and then the nurse in charge of dialysis at the hospital called me and said you need to go to the aerodrome.”
So Nora went to the small airport in Shepparton.
“The assistant pilot came down and said, ‘You’re going to have a transplant.’ I said, ‘Yes,’” she said.
After landing, Nora was taken via ambulance to the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
“And then I was crying,” she said.
When doctors asked why she was upset, Nora said she was worried the transplant might not work.
As she was being taken to surgery, Nora had one more surprise.
“I was ready to go … then I saw Bill at the door.”
Nora’s husband had organised to have his treatment early in Bendigo so he could take the train to Melbourne and support her.
With her family at her side, Nora woke up feeling good.
“From the first day of my transplant until now, I can’t feel any pain … I can’t believe it,” she said.
Nora said it was a big change from having dialysis three days a week and feeling short of breath, itchy and weak.
Now, 20 years on, Nora remains active in Shepparton through support groups, clubs and sports.
“I’ve been here for 42 years. From day one until now, I have been very involved with the community, especially with our Filipino club,” she said.
“I can’t feel any dull moments, I’m always busy … I’m happy.”
The GV Kidney Support Group began when Nora started dialysis about 25 years ago.
It still meets for lunch on the first Tuesday of every month.
“All are welcome,” Nora said.
World Kidney Day was on March 14, and Nora urges others to get checked and seek support.
“Once you have the signs, go and see your doctor,” she said.
Nora also expressed gratitude to the people who supported her journey.
“I would like to thank my kidney donor, my family, and also God,” she said.