Mother's 'priceless gift' to her daughter

Mother's 'priceless gift' to her daughter

By Fiona McPherson
Published: 14 March, 2008

WHEN Tracey Coull heads off for a night out, her mum, Margaret, has an unusual request to make of her... "look after my kidney."

The mother and daughter share an extra special bond after Mrs Coull (52) offered her organ for transplant to give Tracey (27) the gift of life.

Margaret Coull didn't hesitate when doctors revealed that Tracey, who was already on dialysis four times a day, desperately needed a new kidney.

Now the family, who are gearing up for a special fund-raising event this weekend to pay a special thank you to the hospitals and medical staff who helped Tracey back to health, are urging others not to hesitate either when it comes to joining the NHS Organ Donor Register.

Both Margaret and husband Ally, an electrician, were tested and found to be a match for Tracey but, sadly, many patients waiting for a transplant are not so lucky and need the help of a stranger on the register to live.

Margaret said: "When the doctors said Tracey needed a transplant, I really didn't even think about it. There was no way I wouldn't have done it.

"The transplant has given Tracey a new lease of life and she has never looked back."

The family, of McKenzie Street, Findochty, believe Tracey, who is partially sighted, may have suffered kidney problems since birth, but it was only in 2003 that her health began to deteriorate and was diagnosed with chronic kidney failure.

The family were warned that the time was likely to come when the only option for Tracey would be a transplant. For six months, Tracey underwent dialysis four times a day, a process she feels lucky to have been able to undergo at home.

"I didn't have any other choice so I just had to get on with it. It was for 20 minutes at a time and I didn't find it too bad but I was quite tired and didn't go out much," she said.

There's a closer than usual bond between mother and daughter after Margaret Coull (left) donated a kidney to Tracey. Bob Bruce (NS)

It was decided Margaret, who works in Ashers the Bakers in Buckie, would be the one to donate a kidney to Tracey, and the pair were admitted to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary in June 2005 for the transplant operation.

Margaret said: "We went in on the Monday and the operation was on the Wednesday. I was out of hospital the following Tuesday, but Tracey was kept in a bit longer. It all went really well and since then everything has been great, neither of us has had any problems. It has made such a difference to her life."

Tracey said she did have some concerns about her mum going through the operation for her and will always be grateful for the priceless gift she gave.

The family have been involved in a number of fund-raising events since the transplant and they plan to round off their efforts with a soup and sweet tomorrow (Saturday) in Findochty Town Hall from noon to 1.30pm. Friends Barbara George and Denise George are helping prepare the food and local supporters have donated a large number of raffle prizes.

Money raised will be donated to the renal units at Aberdeen and Edinburgh, where Tracey said all the staff had been really good.

Those interested in joining the organ register can find out more by calling the NHS Organ Donor Line on 0845 60 60 400.

f.mcpherson@northern-scot.co.uk

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