An Athlone father was full of pride and nerves when his 25-year-old son went under the knife at Groote Schuur Hospital to donate a kidney to his boeta.
Dad Jerome Pannell, 56, said his son Sheldon, 32, was first diagnosed with kidney problems last September.
In July, he became blind and things looked dire as the family started testing to see if they could be suitable kidney donors.
Luckily younger brother Claude was the perfect match, and on Wednesday he gave his boeta a second lease on life.
“Sheldon was diagnosed with diabetes when he was just 12 years old and then last year he contracted Renal Disease which affects his kidneys and then he started losing his sight at the end of 2020, becoming completely blind in July,” says Jerome.
“I have nine children and we knew one of them would be a match but we were waiting for a surgery date, which was delayed due to Covid, and then last month we got a date and after Claude turned 25 last Saturday, he volunteered to donate his kidney.
“We were so nervous because two of our children went in for surgery at the same time but I am so filled with pride that one of my sons would do this for his brother.
“We can only thank God for this blessing.”
Jerome says Sheldon lives in Gqeberha while Claude lives in Knysna, and the rest of his children are spread all over Mzansi.
“My eldest is 36 and my youngest is 16 and they stay in Johannesburg, Plettenberg Bay, [Gqeberha], Knysna and Cape Town, so we talk regularly over Zoom.
“Both Claude and Sheldon have been in hospital since Sunday for tests but they join in on the calls so we are all just praying and supporting them through all of this.”
Speaking after the surgery, Jerome said: “Both operations went well, the surgeon said the new kidney made itself at home immediately and started to function properly right away. Thank God it was a perfect match.”
Claude will be discharged in a few days and prepare for life with one kidney, while Sheldon will spend two weeks recovering in hospital.
The dad says there is also hope that he might regain his eyesight.
“The doctors told us that once the surgery is done, there is another procedure to help Sheldon regain some of his vision.”