Walter Tauro says he didn害羞草研究所檛 even know what Guinness World Records were before he was recognized by the popular British corporation as the world害羞草研究所檚 oldest kidney transplant recipient earlier this month.

害羞草研究所淚 never heard of it,害羞草研究所� the 88-year-old said with a laugh during a Sunday phone interview from his home in Markham, Ont.

But once he learned more about the organization that tracks human achievements and the extremes of the natural world, the retired realtor said he feels happy he was recognized.

害羞草研究所淚 am feeling good and I害羞草研究所檓 back to normal,害羞草研究所� he said.

Tauro said he moved to Ontario from India in 1965 and ran a successful real estate company for many years with his wife and two kids before his retirement.

In 2020, he said doctors discovered he had kidney disease.

His treatment involved mandatory trips to the hospital three times a week, for four hours at a time, to receive dialysis, a process in which doctors try to replicate the kidney害羞草研究所檚 function by removing excess water and toxins from the blood stream.

害羞草研究所淚 got tired of going to the dialysis,害羞草研究所� he said.

The onerous treatments eventually prompted him to request placement on a list for a kidney transplant.

害羞草研究所淚 didn害羞草研究所檛 hear (about it) for three years after that,害羞草研究所� he said.

Then one day, in June 2023, a doctor at Toronto害羞草研究所檚 St. Michael害羞草研究所檚 Hospital notified Tauro a new kidney was available for transplant but warned he might not survive the procedure due to his age.

After multiple tests, however, a surgeon cleared him to receive a kidney from an anonymous donor.

害羞草研究所淚t is not the age of the patient that matters, it is their overall health,害羞草研究所� Meriam Jayoma-Austria, a registered nurse with St. Michael害羞草研究所檚 Kidney Transplant program, said in a statement.

害羞草研究所淲alter went through the program seamlessly, from his heart assessments to a bone marrow analysis.害羞草研究所�

Moments before his surgery, Tauro said his family still worried for him and said their final goodbyes.

He said he reassured them he would be fine.

害羞草研究所淚 said, 害羞草研究所楧on害羞草研究所檛 worry. I害羞草研究所檒l be back tomorrow morning.害羞草研究所� I had confidence,害羞草研究所� he said, adding he was a little scared but trusted his doctors.

Guinness World Records said on its website that 害羞草研究所淲alter was resolute in his decision to have the transplant as he no longer wanted to do dialysis every day.害羞草研究所�

Six hours after his surgery, Tauro said he remembers waking up.

As he recovered at the hospital for a month, overcoming some minor infections, Tauro said a nurse suggested he reach out to Guinness because she suspected he might be the world害羞草研究所檚 oldest kidney transplant recipient.

Tauro said the nurse害羞草研究所檚 intuition was correct and Guinness verified his record earlier this month.

Now Tauro said he is feeling healthy and enjoying his life with his family and two grandkids.

He said the experience has taught him that everyone needs to take a chance once in a while.

害羞草研究所淚f you don害羞草研究所檛 take a chance, nothing ever happens.害羞草研究所�

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