Oswaldtwistle boy, 7, recovering after kidney transplant from dad

Shaemus no longer has to travel two hours a day, seven days a week, for hospital treatment

A seven-year-old boy with a rare condition is recovering after receiving a kidney transplant from his father.

Shaemus was born with Jeune's syndrome, a form of congenital dwarfism.

His family had been travelling two hours every day from Oswaldtwistle to Liverpool for treatment at Alder Hey Children's Hospital before his dad Kieran was able to donate.

His mum Sarah said she was looking forward to spending more time together as a family.

She said: "It's so peculiar not to be at Alder Hey every day.

"We're hoping Shaemus can go back to school soon."

She said she was "so grateful" Kieran was a match, adding: "This isn't always the case for a lot of families and this is why registering for organ donation is so important."

"The renal team have been amazing, without them... we don't think he'd be with us today."

People with Jeune's syndrome are susceptible to liver and kidney disease, as well as respiratory symptoms.

When Shaemus developed stage five kidney disease, the family was able to perform dialysis at home, which could take up to 13 hours.

This lasted four years, until Shaemus required hemodialysis.

During this treatment, the patient is hooked to a machine in hospital, which pumps the blood out of the body to be filtered before it is returned.

Shaemus' mum and dad, Sarah and Kieran, and some of the renal team at Alder Hey Hospital

For 10 months, the family was required to travel more than 40 miles each way to the hospital.

Shaemus' consultant, paediatric nephrologist, Dr Caroline Jones, said: "Although dialysis is an incredible life-saving method it can only perform up to 10 % of kidney function and therefore children may often feel unwell and have restrictions to what they can eat and how much they can drink

"It is also not a permanent solution and can be very time-consuming for children and their families."

Although a kidney transplant needs to be well looked after with regular medical check ups and medication children feel much better, can attend school more regularly and eat and drink more freely.

"We've been busy preparing Shaemus for a new kidney, we had to wait until he was big enough and strong enough," Ms Jones said.

Both Shaemus' mum and dad were tested to see if their kidneys were compatible.

His dad was found to be a perfect match, with the procedure carried out at Manchester Children's Hospital on 11 January.

Both Shaemus and Kieran are recovering well.