I'll look after you - daughter's vow as dad goes under the knife for her

I'll look after you - daughter's vow as dad goes under the knife for her

Published Date:
14 March 2009
By Fran Duckett-Pike

IT'S not often an 11-year-old girl will give her father advice.
But that's what Emily Potter will be doing when dad Bob goes under the knife to donate one his kidneys to her.

Emily, who suffers with dense deposit disease which turns kidneys to 'stone', had both of hers removed two years ago.
She now hopes to give her father some support based on her own experience.

'I've told him that he needs to rest before the operation and afterwards he needs to take it easy and not work for three months,' she said.

'I am going to make sure that he doesn't – I will be ringing him all the time to check on him.

'It was not that painful for me but my back was hurting for a bit but I think it was easier for me being a kid.

'I've told him that it will hurt a bit but not as much as he thinks it will – he is more nervous than me.'

The life-changing operation takes place on March 31, and the Potters are hoping Emily will no longer need dialysis sessions once she has recovered.

Despite the risks and the fact that Emily, of Wessex Gardens, Portchester, will need months of recovery, she is staying positive about the surgery.

She added: 'I am lucky enough to get a kidney – some kids don't even get the chance. I'm not feeling nervous, I have been through so many operations now.'

But for 38-year-old Bob, the operation is slightly more daunting.

He said: 'I just can't wait for it all to be over and done with. Emily says she is going to look after me!

'You have to think she has had 18 operations and three of those have been major, whereas I haven't had one since I was a kid.'

Emily's mum, Pauline, 37, is feeling anxious about both her loved ones having surgery. She said: 'I am trying to keep busy and not think about it much. It doesn't feel real at the moment.

'It will be hard to cope but we have a lot of friends and family supporting us.'

Emily's younger sister Katie, nine, added: 'I feel really happy that it is happening, I hope the operation goes well.

'I am looking forward to doing more gymnastics with Emily afterwards.'

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/newshome/I39ll-look-after-you-.5071732.jp