World Kidney Day: Woman donates organ to stranger to save friend

Hayley McCarthy says helping Darrel Robinson was a "black and white" issue

A woman who donated her kidney to a complete stranger so her friend's husband could receive a life-saving transplant from another donor has said the decision was a "no-brainer".

Hayley McCarthy, 38, wanted to give one of her kidneys to Darrel Robinson but she was not a match.

They joined a scheme matching people with others in a similar position so donor kidneys can be "swapped".

Mr Robinson, 59, from Castleford, said he now had a "new lease of life".

Darrel Robinson was told he needed a new kidney or faced going on dialysis

Mr Robinson's kidneys had been deteriorating over three decades due to a long-term condition which causes damage to the tiny filters inside the organs.

Two years ago, the youth worker was told his kidney function had dipped to14% and it was time to start considering a transplant or to be put on dialysis.

Mrs McCarthy, a mother of two and learning mentor from Wakefield, said after hearing about Mr Robinson's predicament from his wife, who was a friend of hers, she said she wanted to help.

"For me it was just really black and white. I wanted to be able to help them, knowing there wasn't anyone else."

She said it was "heartbreaking" when tests later showed her kidney was not a match for Mr Robinson.

However, medics at the renal unit at St James's Hospital in Leeds then told her about a kidney-pairing scheme.

Mrs McCarthy said she was recovering well and seeing Mr Robinson benefit from her kidney was "amazing"

Under the scheme, when someone in need of a kidney has a willing donor but they are incompatible, it may be possible for them to be "matched" with another couple in a similar situation and for the donor kidneys to be "exchanged".

Mrs McCarthy said: "The donor team got in touch and said, 'this is your option, you can either take yourself out of it and he's got to go on the big donor list - or you can pair-up'.

"For me, it was a no-brainer."

After a similar couple was found and a "swap" arranged, the pair had their surgeries on 11 February and are now recovering well.

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They spoke about the experience on World Kidney Day, as NHS officials revealed almost 4,600 people in the UK were still waiting for a kidney donation.

Mr Robinson said: "In my mind, I feel like Hayley has donated directly to me.

"I feel I've now got a really emotional connection with Hayley which will go on forever as a result of what she's done."

He said he felt like he had a "new lease of life", with his kidney function at around 70% and his blood pressure normal.

He added: "A thank you just doesn't cut it. There aren't enough words to express the thanks I have for Hayley for doing this."

Meanwhile, Mrs McCarthy said it was fantastic to see Mr Robinson feeling the benefits so soon.

"Darrel has still got a kidney out of this because of the shared donor scheme. I just think it's amazing."