It's Janet's 70th Birthday and she would not like any presents, instead, if you can please donate.

The reason we have chosen the Andy Cole Fund charity is due to Derek. He came to live with just over 9 months ago, he is quite literally a life saver. I do not say that phrase lightly because truth is without him in our lives his companion would have been terminal and most likely not here with us today. Derek is nocturnal, not much of a looker, snores and occasionally throws midnight loud tantrums. He needs a clean down every morning and to be washed and dressed in the evening.

Derek’s role is to take over the job of the kidneys and remove waste products from the body. A tube is placed in the stomach area into the perineal sack. Derek’s job is to fill the peritoneal sac with an amount of fluid, this then sits for a period of time before, Derek pulls it back off. During this process the fluid absorbs toxins from the blood as well as drawing off excess fluid, this process is repeated many times over while Derek is active. Derek works about 8 hours every night.

You see his companion has a rare form of Chronic Kidney Disease and is in stage 5 otherwise known as kidney failure. Currently there is no cure for Kidney Failure just treatment for sustaining life, which includes dialysis and transplant. A transplant is the option that gives the best quality of life either gifted by a matching doner or gifted by a family who has just lost a love one. Like many things in life the treatment affects can cause a spectrum of symptoms from feeling well and healthy enough to living a full and normal life to spending life with little energy and super low immune system. Unfortunately like a spectrum no one can put a time limit on the ongoing benefits of treatment, having a transplant is akin to putting a loose battery from your kitchen drawer, you have not got a clue whether it will work or how long for, but luckily the next one you get might do better.

Please join me in supporting this cause! Andy has set up the Andy Cole Fund alongside Kidney Research UK to help people like him, who are living with kidney disease. The money raised goes towards vital research into transplants and the best ways to support patients mental health and wellbeing.