Story on Page 1 and 2 of The Courier, Tuesday, October 19, 2004.
The father and son were admitted to the Royal Melbourne Hospital yesterday to prepare for the operation that could change Luke's life.
Luke was admitted to Ballarat Health Services Base Hospital seven months ago with chronic renal failure and told he would need a new kidney or dialysis for life. Kevin underwent immediate compatibility testing and crossed his fingers he would be a match.
``I am doing what any father would do,'' Kevin said.
``I'm not the only one in the family that put my hand up to give Luke a kidney, but I was the first one and I was a match.''
Kevin said he was proud of the way his 24-year-old son had dealt with the disease.
``Luke's been really good, he's still been out and about and he even wanted to play footy this year.''
While Luke did not get the chance to run out on the field in a Springbank jumper this year, he is hopeful of a comeback next year.
``I'll just have to see what the doctors say,'' he said.
Determined his condition would not sideline him from every sport, Luke donned his cricket whites and fielded for Brown Hill Cricket Club's seniors on Saturday and returned to the crease on Sunday to compete in division three.
Luke, who had to cut salt out of his diet, is looking forward to the day he can bite into a piece of toast with vegemite and celebrate with a couple of beers.
``I've only been allowed 800 mills (millilitres) of fluids each day _ I can still have a couple of beers but 800 mills (millilitres) is not much,'' he said.
Luke was in high spirits yesterday ntsMonday, October 18nte but Kevin admitted to last minute nerves.
``I'm feeling pretty good _ I'm not worried,'' Luke said.
``But his old man is getting a bit toey,'' Kevin said.
Luke said his father had not hesitated in offering him one of his kidneys.
When asked what his father's offer had meant to him, Luke said: ``He knows how I feel about it.''
The operations, to be performed today,ntsTuesday, October 19nte will take more than five hours.
Kevin is expected to return to Ballarat in about a week, while Luke will remain in Melbourne for a couple of months.
Kevin, who works for Never Fail Spring Water, said he would have at least six weeks off work.
``They told me to have at least six weeks off because it's a physically demanding job,'' he said.
Luke, who is completing a carpentry apprenticeship, hopes to resume work early next year.
``I haven't been able to work for the last couple of months,'' Luke said.
He has become a familiar face at Ballarat Base Hospital's new dialysis facility, with visits three times a week to be hooked up to a dialysis machine.
Nurse unit manager Catherine Thomas said Luke had been a model patient.
``He seems very accepting of things,'' Ms Thomas said.
``We'll miss him, but we're glad to see him go.
``We wish him all the best.''
Ms Thomas praised Kevin and said Luke may have been forced to wait up to six years for a kidney on a donor list.
``His father was willing straight away,'' Ms Thomas said.
She said the chances of Luke's body accepting the kidney were improved significantly because the donor was a family member.
``The chances of him rejecting the kidney are lower because Kevin is a family member and a better match.''
Kevin said the staff at the dialysis facility had been great.
``The staff have spoilt him.''
Kevin said the new facility, which opened in July, was ``state-of-the-art''.
Luke was diagnosed with kidney disease four years ago and if the operation is successful he will need to take anti-rejection medication for the rest of his life _ a small price to pay if he no longer has to rely on a dialysis machine and suffer from constant lethargy.
Story on Page 4 of The Courier, Wednesday, October 20, 2004.
KIDNEY recipient Luke Kane gave father Kevin a thumbs up as he emerged from the operating theatre at
Royal Melbourne Hospital yesterday afternoon.
Kevin, who was the kidney donor, and Luke were in high spirits after their operations, according to the Kane's eldest son Peter.
``Dad was no worries _ he was sitting up in bed,'' Peter said.
``Luke was in a fair bit of pain, but he was still trying to crack a few jokes.''
Peter said doctors had told the family the operations appeared to be a success, with both expected to be released on Sunday.
Luke, 24, will need to visit the Royal Melbourne Hospital every day for the next month, while Kevin will take a six-week break from work.
Peter said the family hoped the kidney transplant would help Luke to lead a more ``normal'' life.
``It will be great for Luke to not have to get plugged into a machine all the time.
``He used to look run down all the time, he was not as vibrant as he used to be.''
Peter said it had been a bit of a shock to the family when they learned Luke would need a new kidney or dialysis for life, but they had banded together to get through the trying time.
``Everyone in the family has been great, Dad came forward straight away and mum was willing to have the same testing. Dad is a real generous bloke.''
Peter said it was a great relief to see Luke and his father smiling yesterday.
Luke was diagnosed with kidney disease four years ago and was admitted to the Ballarat Base Hospital with chronic renal failure seven months ago.
His condition meant he had to be hooked up to a dialysis machine three times a week at the hospital's dialysis unit.
Luke may have been forced to wait up to six years on a kidney donor list and the chances of his body rejecting the kidney are decreased because it came from a family member.
Paul Nolan
Chief of Staff
The Courier, Ballarat
