Cambridge mum who gave son kidney says pain was worth it

William was diagnosed with genetic nephrotic kidney disease and had to have both kidneys removed when he was two-and-a-half

A mother who donated one of her kidneys to her son said the pain was worth it "to make him be who he can be".

Alice Carter's kidney proved a suitable match for William, who had been on dialysis for 14 months before the transplant in November 2021.

"You'd never have known he'd been through such a traumatic start," said Ms Carter, from near Cambridge.

Fewer than 700 children in the UK have had a kidney transplant, according to Guy's and St Thomas NHS Trust.

Dad Nigel and mum Alice both carried a kidney defect that did not affect them but did affect their son

William, who has just turned six, was born early at 33 weeks and tests revealed he had abnormal kidney function.

"We found that both mum and dad carried a defect that didn't affect us but had a one in four chance it could affect our child," said Ms Carter.

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William was diagnosed with genetic nephrotic kidney disease and had to have both kidneys removed when he was two-and-a-half, beginning dialysis.

Ms Carter said: "We weren't able to do a lot of wonderful things as he was tired all the time and he slept a lot.

"Thankfully we're a match, as parents are already half a match, and I am just very thankful that our blood types aren't too different."

William had 14 months of dialysis, much of it at home, before he was able to have the transplant

Mother and son had their operations at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, the nearest child kidney transplant centre.

For the first few weeks, William's father Nigel, a farmer, had to take him to hospital for tests every two days, while Ms Carter was unable to drive or even lift up their son.

He is now thriving and taking part in the British Transplant Games in the summer gave him a particular boost, winning a Gold medal.

Ms Carter said: "Going there was such an eye opener for all of us.

"First thing we met two little friends, Joseph and Henry, and William lifted up his T-shirt, showed his scar and they said, 'I've got one of those', and he said 'I'm not the only one'."

After Gold-winning success in the bean bag bullseye event at the British Transplant Games, he plans to take part again this summer

She is largely unaffected by the surgery, apart from having to make sure she drinks enough water.

"I don't feel any different and I am just so pleased I was able to do it for our son because, who wouldn't?" she said.

"The pain I went through, well, I'd do it every time to make him be who he can be, because he is just amazing."

Kidney disease affects one in 10 people around the world, according to Kidney Care UK.