Transplant Patient Dies 38 Years On

New Zealand's longest survivng kidney transplant patient has died.

Iris Wilkinson died in Auckland last Thursday aged 87. She recieved her kidney transplant at Auckland Hospital in 1969, aged 49.

Her daughter Cherie Croker described her mother, whose funeral was held yesterday in Remuera, as a very determined woman.

"It was a remarkable achievement. Her kidney transplant lasted nearly 38 years...they only transplant one and she was very lucky that she got a good one and she looked after it and did everthing the doctor said to. She's a real tribute to Auckland Hospital and their services and it brings in to the public mind the importance of people donating organs"

She said her mother had kidney disease and was on dialysis before recieving her transplant.

"It was the afternoon of my 21st birthday that the hospital rang and said we've got a kdiney for you. And of course there was going to be a party that night and she didn't want to miss that and she said, "I'll only come if its going to be a perfect match and by golly it was. It was very good.

She said her husband had a kidney transplant nearly two years ago. He said to them (doctors) "his mother-in-law had a good run".

She said doctors were amazed at the way her mother recovered following the transplant and continued to keep good health.

"She lived a normal llife. She spent the last three years of her life in a rest home due to other, unrelated medical problems."

She said her mother took extra good care of her health. "she always followed the doctors intructions, she always took her medication and she was careful with her diet and never drank unboiled water."

New Zealand Herald