03 February 2023 , 18:41
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A medical "miracle" has five kidneys after two life-saving transplants — and surviving skin cancer.
Kudz Munongi, 41, a university lecturer, is a keen supporter of Max and Keira’s Law, introduced to increase the number of organ donors in England after a five-year Mirror campaign.
He says that he knows "better than anyone" how transplant operations transform lives. “I have five kidneys inside me, believe it or not,” he said.
“They are in quite a small place. I had a double transplant in 2008 and that made four.
"Then I got another one last year. I feel like The Bionic Man.”
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Kudz Munongi was diagnosed with kidney disease in 2004 at the age of just 22 (DAVID JAMES WOOD)In Feb 2018, Kudz was diagnosed with a rare form of skin cancer after enduring years of gruelling dialysis for his failing kidneys.
He had to be treated with chemotherapy for nine months, which made him especially vulnerable during the Covid pandemic.
But he came through that, before he had to be given a fifth kidney in November, which he described as the "best Christmas present ever".
Now he has five in his body, as the failing organs remain in place. He has never seen them on an X Ray, but is undergoing a scan soon. The transplanted kidneys are placed in the lower belly on the front side of the body.
Zimbabwe-born Kudz was treated at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital, where Mirror organ donor law campaigner Max Johnson underwent his heart transplant.
Kudz was treated at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital (MDM)
Kudz now works as a Senior Lecturer in Accounting and Finance at the University of Sunderland (DAVID JAMES WOOD)Kudz, who lives with girlfriend Melanie Lloyd in Sunderland, has twice-weekly follow-up checks. He said: "I have always had a positive mentality and that has helped me through.
"I back the new organ donor law because I know how important it is to have donors. It would take up to eight hours a day for my dialysis including waiting time and travelling to and from hospital.
"If my five kidneys start working, I could donate three of them!"
Kudz is an ambassador for Kidney Research UK, raising funds for the charity. He graduated from Sunderland University before becoming a lecturer.
The University’s Vice-Chancellor Sir David Bell said: "Kudz is an inspiration to everyone who studies and works here.
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"His fortitude, resilience and optimism are all truly remarkable. Not only that, Kudz continues to be very highly regarded and rated by our students which is testament to his commitment to the University."
Kudz won a student-nominated award for Most Inspirational Teacher at the University in 2021.
Kudz is also an ambassador for Kidney Research UK (DAVID JAMES WOOD)Kidney Research UK spokesperson Professor Lorna Marson, a transplant surgeon, said it was common for transplant patients to have four kidneys — but not five.
“Transplants don’t last forever, so people often need more than one,” she said.
“The original kidneys would only be removed if they were causing problems, such as repeated infections, or if a patient has multiple cysts on their kidneys and they become very large, leaving no room for the transplanted kidney to go in.
“The maximum number of kidneys after multiple transplants is usually four. Once this is reached one of the transplanted kidneys is taken out. Sometimes an old transplant shrinks and a fifth can be placed, but usually one is removed first.”
Max and Keira’s Law was named in honour of Max Johnson, 15, of Winsford, Cheshire, and his heart donor Keira Ball, who tragically lost her life aged nine after an accident near her home in Barnstaple, Devon.
Officially adopted in May, 2021 in England, it means everyone is understood to be a donor unless they opt out of the system.