– This is one of the best moments of my life, which Carl Henrik and I will share until the end, says donor Andreas Bakka Hjertø. He talks about one of his kidneys, which he has donated to his best friend Carl-Henrik. DONATOR: Andreas Bakka Hjertø hopes that the story inspires others. – That you can donate between friends, not just family. Photo: Truls Alnes Antonsen / news Andreas and Carl-Henrik are not related. Nevertheless, they can call themselves blood brothers. It is also the name of the documentary that has been broadcast on NRK1. It follows Andreas Bakka Hjertø (43) and his friend Carl-Henrik Thorsen (44), who has kidney disease. – I did it primarily because Carl Henrik needed it, says the donor. The two men have known each other since they were 4 years old. – For me in particular, it has been extremely worth it. Being able to give another person this gift is incredibly rewarding, he continues. MEMORIES: Andreas and Carl-Henrik share many memories. They have been friends since they were 4 years old. Carl-Henrik Lived directly across the street from Andreas at Stabekk. Photo: Truls Alnes Antonsen / Privat/news 500 people are waiting Getting a new kidney is the best treatment for patients with advanced kidney disease, if they can tolerate the operation. In Norway, around 500 people are on the waiting list for a new kidney, according to figures obtained by news. At the same time, Norway is the only country in Scandiatransplant where the waiting time is getting longer. In 2013, the average waiting time in Norway was 9 months. Today it is around 20. – That is a doubling in the last ten years. It is serious, says Janne Gripheim at Rikshospitalet to news. She is head of department for the only transplant department in Norway, which is at Rikshospitalet. FEWER DONATE: If more people had donated a kidney, society would also save a lot of money. – It costs significantly more to have patients on dialysis. If we only had 32 more transplants a year, society would have saved 100 million each year, says Janne Gripheim to news. Photo: Truls Alnes Antonsen / news Don’t have fewer donors since the 80s The explanation is simple: There are not enough organs – and the proportion of kidney failure in the population is increasing. – We do not have access to enough kidneys in relation to how many people need them. Lifestyle changes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases are the main reasons for the increase, says Gripheim. A kidney transplant gives the best results if it comes from a living person. But in recent years, the proportion of living donors has decreased, says Gripheim. – Normally we have 70-80 donors a year, but in the last two we have had 43 living donors. We have to go all the way back to the eighties to find such numbers. The decline came during the pandemic, but there could also be other reasons, she says. Scared before the operation According to the figures, fewer siblings give now than before, and more friends and spouses. Potential donors must go through a major investigation in advance to ensure that they are healthy enough. – It is a long process with many investigations. But as soon as one is cleared, it does not take long before the transplant can be carried out. Donating a kidney was not only easy for Andreas Bakka Hjertrø. It has been three years since the operation was carried out. – I, like many others, have a fear of death. I think it was quite terrible to go into the hospital where they were going to open me up and take out an organ. He thought the time leading up to the operation was disgusting. – Especially when I have small children, having to expose myself to a risk that was not necessary for myself. But I feel it was worth it, he emphasizes. Gripheim at Rikshospitalet says they need to talk more about the benefits of living donation. – Donating a kidney is considered low risk. Apart from being careful about lifting and carrying heavily in the first weeks, it is perfectly fine to live with only one kidney, notes the section leader. Life is wonderful Carl-Henrik Thorsen, who was the recipient of his best friend’s kidney, describes life after the operation as wonderful. – It’s like night and day different, says Thorsen. HAPPY: Carl-Henrik Thorsen is grateful. Photo: Truls Alnes Antonsen / news Before the transplant, he had a list of 11 “pains” that plagued him and which have now disappeared. – I slept very badly, snored loudly, had back pain, itching and uric acid poisoning. Everything has disappeared. He had only 5 percent kidney function before the operation. If he hadn’t received his friend’s kidney, he would have had to start dialysis several times a week. – There are many lives that can be improved by being a donor. Getting a new kidney is lifesaving. Many in the queue die. It’s tough to sit in that queue – to say the least. I have sat there. MORE MEMORIES: Carl-Henrik and Andreas grew up together. Now they hope more people will open their eyes to the fact that friends can also donate a kidney. Photo: Truls Alnes Antonsen / news
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Andreas gave a kidney to his best friend – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
