London father gives his son a second gift of life, a kidney

Diagnosed with kidney failure in his late 20s, Robert Pont's dreams of holding his two children's hands through life's milestones were on the line. Those dreams are now realities, made possible through the gift of life — from his own father.

"What you're doing for me is giving me a second chance…It's giving [me] hope," said Pont, now 32, to his father Simon Pont, who is donating his right kidney to his eldest son in December.

• 'It gives me hope:' Alberta organ donor rate hits high record

Pont's father and step family moved to London, Ont. from the U.K. in 2007 — a few years before he learned about his son's condition. Since then the two Ponts have been mostly corresponding online.

Pont's problems with his kidneys were the unintended outcome of his premature birth. He had been surviving on about 15 per cent of his kidneys through a healthy diet and medication, but his condition deteriorated six months ago.

His father stepped in. Simon Pont had already learned from doctors in the U.K. and the London Health Sciences Centre that he was a 95 per cent compatible match with his son.

"There was that momentary thought, that hang on — you're going to take something out of me and leave me with one — but it didn't last long because he's my son and the chance of giving [him] a lease of life is a great opportunity," said Simon Pont, a 58-year-old father of three.

"I'm going to come out with some scars and be slightly lighter, but Robert is going to feel 10 times better."

• 20 years after dad gave son a kidney, they aim to help others
• 'We're kidney twins': P.E.I. strangers bond over transplants from same donor

The younger Pont is now living with eight per cent of his kidneys. The transplant speaks to his unbreakable bond with his father, and through the transplant, he will have the chance to teach that bond to his children.

"It's a sense of knowing that I'm going to be around. I'm going to do a lot more with my kids. Be there for them in a better way that I am now," he said.

Push to donate

Health officials had warned Simon Pont — who already booked his tickets to England for the transplant — about his heightened risks of kidney failure after his surgery. 

However, he was convinced he wanted to help save a life. He had already made the decision to donate his organs after his death prior to the decision to donate it to his son.

• Ontario organ donations jump 30% in just one year

"I've already made that mental journey to say I'm prepared to donate an organ to somebody and if it can't be my son it's going to be somebody else," he said.

"The fact that it's my son adds value to it in our family's mind but actually it could easily be anybody else who desperately needs that organ."

Each year, the London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) donor program completes about two donor assessments for recipients living outside of Canada. To date, Simon Pont has travelled to the U.K. just once since his son's initial diagnosis. All other tests and assessments have been carried out locally at the LHSC. 

Whether nationwide, or internationally, the Ponts are encouraging people who are able to donate to consider an assessment or donation that could help save a life.

"If something can be done, then please donate. Give [someone] a bit of a chance," said Pont, who can now confidently plan a future for himself, and his family.