Exclusive: Good Samaritan makes history

Exclusive: Good Samaritan makes history
Thu, September 23 2010

By John Garvey, Reporter
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Diane Franks donated a kidney to a perfect stranger - becoming the first person to do so in West Berkshire

A GOOD Samaritan has helped make history by becoming the nation’s 16th ever ‘altruistic’ kidney donor - and the first in West Berkshire.
Diane Franks donated a kidney to a perfect stranger, motivated only by the chance to transform another’s life.
Just three years ago, such a procedure was unknown in the UK and so far only 15 other people in the UK have done so.
Ms Franks recorded every detail of the the emotional rollercoaster the procedure entailed on an anonymous, online blog.
Without knowing her identity, many thousands of people across the world followed Ms Frank’s progress, from her first tests to post-operative recovery, at livingkidneydonation.co.uk
Some have signed up for the procedure themselves and now she has agreed to be indentified in the hope that her story may inspire even more to follow her extraordinary example.
Ms Franks, a 58-year-old former employee of Tesco Extra in Pinchington Lane, Newbury, said that although she was a practising Christian and her faith had sustained her throughout, her decision was pragmatic.
She quotes another altruistic donor pioneer who declared: “I can’t bring about world peace; I can’t eliminate world hunger - but I can get one person off dialysis.”
Ms Franks said: “A friend of mine in America donated to a family member and it got me thinking. Something just clicked inside me. I knew I wanted to give someone their life back.”
Ms Franks, who lives in Lambourn and whose son Matt is a local farrier, registered as a potential donor in February 2009.
She said: “I went to my GP at Lambourn Surgery and he arranged an appointment for me. I had preliminary tests - blood tests, blood typing, urine tests, X-rays, an ultrasound scan, isotope testing and so on. You have to see a psychologist to ensure you’re emotionally stable and then a psychiatrist and consultant nephrologist.
“When the tests are complete then approval is sought from the Human Tissue Authority which authorises such procedures. They ensure you know what you’re letting yourself in for and finally a committee examines everything and decides whether you are a suitable donor.”
Ms Franks was finally entered onto a database to try to find a suitable recipient.
The first two did not match her blood type but on the the third attempt there was a perfect match.
Ms Franks said: “On the day of the operation it was strange - I thought I would have to hide my nerves but there was just this excitement that this was it - I was about give someone their life back. As I went into theatre I wasn’t scared at all.”
A three-hour operation followed and Ms Franks awoke from the general anaesthetic with no problem.
She said: “I felt remarkably well and was wide awake within seconds and able to go home in two days. It helped that I had 100 per cent trust in the doctors and hospital staff. They were an incredibly talented team.”
Ms Franks said that she knew of “at least three” people who have been inspired by her blog to register as potential live kidney donors and added: “I would urge other people to volunteer in the same way I did. You’ll be giving the biggest gift you can ever give anyone.”

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