Mum donates kidney to save son

[okarol]

Mum donates kidney to save son

Paul Britton

September 17, 2009

A MOTHER donated a kidney to save her youngest son - months after his older brother died.

Doctors told Daniel Thornton, 22, that he needed a transplant after a kidney condition deteriorated.

Months later, his brother Mark, 37, fell ill and died from septicaemia after being diagnosed with a rare cancer.

As the family grieved, mum Brenda, 56, proved to be a blood match to Daniel. Both are now recovering after surgery.

Daniel, a postman and scratch golfer, has sent his mother a card saying: "Thanks for the gift of life."

Their stay at Manchester Royal Infirmary coincided with what would have been Mark's 38th birthday.

Bravery

Brenda's husband Albert described 'the worst year of my life' as he paid tribute to Mark and the bravery of Brenda and Daniel.

The couple also have another son Matthew, 28, and daughter Lindsey, 33.

Albert, 66, from Bury, said: "This has been the worst year of my life.

"We are just trying to hold everything together. Until you lose a child, you cannot describe it. It is like someone has cut your arm off. But Daniel would have needed extensive dialysis had it not been for this. He needed a kidney to save his life. Brenda has saved the life of her son."

Daniel, a former St Gabriel's RC High School pupil, developed kidney problems aged 14. His condition deteriorated last December.

Father-of-two Mark, who worked in construction, was admitted to hospital in March and died a month later from blood poisoning after doctors diagnosed a lung tumour, a secondary form of a rare cancer.

Operation

Mark had volunteered to donate his kidney to his brother.

Albert described Mark as a 'strapping young man'. He said: "Mark had never been ill and it was very, very quick.

"The reason why we couldn't use Mark's kidney was because of the blood poisoning. Mark was one of the first to volunteer but the surgeons thought that my wife and I would be better. We will always be grieving for Mark."

Daniel and Brenda had the operation last month.

Albert said: "They both seem to be well but it is going to be a long process. Daniel has got to keep his spirits up.

"It is the mental thing as well because he has lost his brother. It was very hard because they were so close."

The family is now campaigning for people to donate organs. Visit uktransplant.org.uk for more information.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1137506_mum_donates_kidney_to_save_son