Elias Frantzeskos came into the world 7 weeks early with poor function of his kidney.

Elias Frantzeskos
Elias Frantzeskos underwent his second kidney transplant at the RMH

Fortunately, Elias's mum was a perfect match and she donated her kidney to him when he was 4  years old.

The 24-year-old Carlton supporter says his kidney lasted him about 16 years, which is when his journey with the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH) began.

Elias started regular home dialysis at the Royal Park Campus shortly after graduating high school in 2016.

“I was coming in pretty much every day,” Elias said. “I was put on a transplant list and was told it would take a few years.”

After 4 years of regular dialysis, Elias got the call in March 2021 to find out a deceased kidney was available, and he had his second transplant.

Since the transplant, Elias has transitioned his visits to the RMH from being every day to every second and third day, to once every 2 weeks for a general check up on his bloods. Every so often he attends the RMH Young Persons Renal Transition Clinic.

“It’s been good attending the clinic,” he said. “The team have been supportive and you can feel comfortable talking about your experience with people your own ago who have gone through sometimes very similar, and sometimes very different experiences.”

Elias is now healthy and well, and continues to enjoy keeping up with sport when he is not working.

Help give the give of life to Australians and register to become an organ donor today. Registration is free and easy. Just visit Donate Life.

Mobile Stroke Unit with Ambulance Victoria paramedic and the RMH Stroke team
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