A West Lothian woman in need of a transplant is determined to get back on the dance floor.
Dot Currie, 64, was completely unaware of her kidney problems until she ended up in hospital three years ago. She had a mini-stroke, before doctors discovered she was in need of a transplant.
Dot, fondly known as Disco Dot, has been waiting since summer 2022. She said it’s ‘like a lottery ticket’ as to when she will hear.
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In the mean time, Dot is organising a fundraising night in East Calder to raise funds for Kindey Research with – you guessed it – a disco night.
She told the West Lothian Courier: “I had a mini-stroke over two years ago and when I went in they were doing routine tests and bloods and discovered it.
“I only realised because a nurse told me they couldn’t believe I was walking at that stage because my kidneys were that bad. I’ve been on the waiting list for a transplant since around about the summer time.
“There’s a three to three-and-a-half year waiting list. It’s like a lottery ticket. I do dialysis four times a day at home.
‘Dot’s the bravest woman I know’
(Image: West Lothian Courier/Supplied)
“I tried the two different machines available but neither worked for me, so I have to do it manually.”
The mum-of-one, who has a 32-year-old son, has always been the life and soul of the party. But her love of dancing has been curtailed by her ill health.
Despite her health worries, Dot decided to organise a fundraising night for the charity Kidney Research which will take place at The Village pub in East Calder, with tickets for the disco and live music night already sold out.
“”I just feel that I have to do something. I won’t let it beat me,” Dot added.
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“My goal is to still be on the dance floor when I’m 88, and I’m going to try and get on the dance floor on the night. Just now I’m restricted to dancing in my chair.”
Jenny Kennedy from Livingston is helping Dot with the organisation of the charity night, and describes her friend as an “absolute warrior”.
“Dot’s the bravest woman I know,” said Jenny. “She used to be the life and soul of the party, and is known as Disco Dot.
“She always has a smile on her face, no matter what and her ultimate goal is to get back on the dance floor just like she used to.
“Dot’s 64, but you’d never guess it – she looks so well considering everything she’s been through.”
Dot is organising a fundraiser for Kidney Research at the Village Pub in East Calder
(Image: West Lothian Courier/Supplied)
With hindsight, Dot now realises that something wasn’t quite right before she was hospitalised with the mini-stroke.
“I only noticed it gradually at the beginning,” she said. “I was getting breathless and was climbing the stairs in work and was knackered by the time I got to the top.
“When I look back now I realise that was what was slowly happening to my body. I hadn’t been to the doctors for over 30 years because I was never ill.
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“So they had to do every single test you can think of, as there was nothing on record about me. They put me on steroids and I was on them for ages.
“I went from being a size 10 to an 18, I was huge. It’s starting to come off now as I’m not on the steroids anymore, but it takes time to take the weight back off.
“I just want to raise awareness as I never had a clue about kidney problems until this happened to me.”