Wirral mum donated kidney to stranger

Jan 16 2013 by Helen Hunt, Birkenhead News

Wirral mum donated kidney to stranger

A MUM-of-three from Wirral donated one of her kidneys to a complete stranger just in time for Christmas.

Rachel Leah’s act of kindness meant someone who she did not know was able to benefit from a life-saving kidney and was well enough to leave hospital on Christmas Eve.

Today the former sixth form school teacher, from Oxton, said a number of factors – including her husband helping others live after his death – had helped her make her mind up to become an “altruistic donor”.

She said she would recommend it to anyone.

Rachel said: “People say what an amazing act but to be honest it was not a big deal.

“I was put in touch with a transplant co-ordinator at the Royal Liverpool Hospital so she explained all that was involved and the various different stages that you had to go through, saying that it was my decision and I could pull out at any time.”

Tests were carried out to ensure that she was healthy enough to go under the knife and that the kidney itself was good quality.

Recently-retired Rachel, 60, made up her mind to be a donor last February after hearing someone on the radio talk about their experience of donating a kidney to someone they did not know.

But because of the rigorous testing procedure, it was December before the operation could take place. A match was found within 24 hours.

Rachel said: “Different strands went into my decision to become a donor.

“One was that my friend works in children’s dialysis. The second was that nearly four years ago my husband died very suddenly and as a family we got a huge amount from being able to donate both his kidneys.

“He was only 58, fit, slim and healthy, a non-smoker. He had a massive stroke. The only thing that made sense at that time was two people could benefit.”

Go to www.giveakidney.org.uk for more details.