Twin donates kidney to sister

[Karol]

Twin donates kidney to sister

By Aasma Day
Published on Saturday 24 September 2011 02:09

A sister will give her twin the ultimate gift of life by donating one of her kidneys.

Gill Kaczmarczyk and Jen Heaton have always been close andshared everything from a very young age.

But now Jen will be taking sharing to a whole new level, by giving her twin sister a kidney.

The 44-year-old non-identical twins, who both live in Penwortham, will be under the knife on Monday.

Jen will be going into theatre first to have one of her kidneys removed, and then Gill will receive the transplant later the same day.

Gill said: “I am overwhelmed that Jen is doing this for me.”

Gill, who is married to Steve and has daughters Alyssia, 19, and Grace, 17, suffers from a kidney disorder which has gradually worsened. Her kidneys are now only working at about 7% of their capacity.

When Jen, who is a GP specialising in dermatology, heard Gill urgently needed a transplant, she offered her one of her kidneys, and tests revealed she was a perfect match.

Gill, who is in management training, and lives on Moorside Drive, Penwortham, said: “Jen and I have always shared a particularly close relationship and, as well as twin sisters, we are best friends, and have always had a special bond.

“Jen was ecstatic when she found out she was a perfect match for me, as she really wanted to be the one to donate to me.

“It is such a huge thing she is doing for me, and my greatest concern is for her.”

Gill’s kidney ordeal first began when she was pregnant with Alyssia, and began suffering from high blood pressure, which doctors initially thought was pre-eclampsia.

However, when the condition didn’t improve, tests revealed Gill had IgA nephropathy, a disease which affects the filters of the kidneys.

For many years, Gill managed to control the condition with medication and regular monitoring. But two years ago, she became ill with swine flu and, since then, her kidney function has deteriorated rapidly.

Gill said: “My kidneys are now working so little that I should really be on dialysis. But doctors say the gold standard for the best chance of success is to do a kidney transplant before the patient goes on dialysis, and from a live donor who is a perfect match. Luckily, even though my kidneys are hardly working, I have managed to hold off going on dialysis, and hopefully the transplant will be a success.”

If Gill had waited for a matching kidney on the organ donor register, she may have been waiting six years. Fortunately for her, family members including husband Steve, her parents, her brother and brother-in-law, all willingly came forward as potential donors, but Jen was thrilled when tests showed she was the best match.

Jen, who is married to David and lives on Broad Oak Lane, Penwortham, said: “When I found out Gill needed a kidney, my automatic reaction was to give her one of mine.

“I just wanted to help her get well again, and there was never any doubt for me to go for the tests.

“I know there are risks with surgery and that there will be pain post op, but all that pales into significance compared to getting my sister better.”

Fiona Biggins, living kidney donor co-ordinator at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, said: “Jen and Gill’s story is an inspiration, and I wish them every success for the transplant.”

The transplant will take place on Monday at Manchester Royal Infirmary.

http://www.lep.co.uk/news/health/twin_donates_kidney_to_sister_1_3806903