Kidney swap bride finally ties the knot

[okarol]

Kidney swap bride finally ties the knot

Sep 8 2008
by Tom Mullen, Evening Chronicle

LEAVING her health fears to one side, beaming bride Julie Deighton finally tied the knot.

Julie, who had a kidney transplant from her dad, was forced to cancel her first big day when she collapsed just days before the ceremony.

Everything was arranged, from the cake to chilled Champagne, and guests had arrived from around the world only to be told the wedding was off.

Julie’s body had begun to reject her father’s kidney, and she will soon receive her mother Carol’s organ in a rare double operation.

But yesterday Julie was back to her old self and finally said “I do” to hubby Mark Robson.

Scores of guests travelled from as far away as New Zealand to attend the plush do at Slaley Hall in Northumberland.

The smitten 32-year-old from Washington, said: “I was panicking a bit about the dress and all that sort of thing. But we just kept everything the same.

“We basically had to send out the invites again. It’s been a case of fingers crossed.”

Since her first transplant, Julie has needed regular hospital check-ups and uses a dialysis machine three times a week.

It was during a routine appointment two days before her wedding day in May that she took a turn for the worse.

The big day was planned for a Sunday afternoon, but by the Friday morning it became clear she would be in no fit state to walk down the aisle.

Best man Alec Linsley, who worked tirelessly to help the couple through the two-day ordeal, said: “She went into hospital as normal, but started having a fit. We were devastated and worried the whole weekend.”

But the two families were overjoyed when the hotel, DJ, band, registrar and caterers all agreed to postpone the occasion free of charge.

Julie added: “We’re very grateful to everyone for their support.”

There have been only 15 cases of people receiving kidneys from both parents since records began in the late 1960s.

Plans for the transplant with her mum are still in the early stages, but if it is successful it will mean Julie no longer has to visit hospital.

Her father Bob, 55, said: “It’s the first glimmer of hope we’ve had in a long while.

“We tried a different kind of dialysis where you do it at home, but she wasn’t compatible with that in the end.

“There are lots of little tests that still need doing, but the beauty of another transplant is she will be able to have a completely normal life again.”

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-evening-chronicle/2008/09/08/kidney-swap-bride-finally-ties-the-knot-72703-21701855/