UK'S OLDEST FEMALE KIDNEY DONOR, 81, GIVES NEW LIFE TO SONGEORGE OLIVER
GEORGE.OLIVER@THESENTINEL.CO.UK
08:52 - 30 April 2008
Diabetic David Wright has been given a new kidney - by his 81-year-old mum.
OAP Christine Wright made the amazing offer after seeing her son's health deteriorate.
The gift of life makes Mrs Wright the UK's oldest female living kidney donor.
David, aged 51, said: "My mum has saved my life. It has given me a second chance and means we can live as a family again."
The stepdad-of-two, who lost his legs in the mid-1990s through MRSA, has had diabetes since being at school.
Consultants found Mr Wright had kidney failure in 2004 and in 2006 and was put on the transplant list.
He said: "The doctors told us there would always be someone more needy if there was a match. So when mum said she would do it that meant it was for me, so it was my only chance and I was delighted and overjoyed."
Mr Wright had his four-and-a-half hour operation at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, in Birmingham, on April 4 and says he is feeling "marvellous".
He said: "I want to get back to enjoying life and back doing the things that as a family we have not been doing for the last few years."
Mrs Wright, of Bromfield Court, Stone, offered her kidney to her son two years ago but needed a series of tests.
Consultants had warned the operation was a gamble and she feared it would not go ahead.
She said: "It is wonderful and the surgeons were brilliant.
"They were very edgy at the beginning, but were prepared to do it if we were.
"I had been having tests for up to two years and was wondering if they were trying to put me off because of my age, but they kept going and gave me my chance."
David and wife Kay, of Anson Road, Meir, hope the successful transplant will lead to more new donors and further lives being saved
Kay, aged 52, said: "It is an amazing story and she is a remarkable lady.
"His mum wanted this no matter what the outcome.
"My husband has been at death's door a few times over the last few years and for it to work so well has been amazing.
"The consultants are over the moon."
The oldest living kidney donor was 83 when he went under the knife in March. Mrs Wright - at 81 years and four months - is the second oldest living kidney donor.
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