AN ALVESTON mum who made an appeal for a live kidney donor is waiting to see if a volunteer who stepped forward is a match.
Tania Allen made the appeal in the Voice last month, and shared the online version of our story on Facebook, catching the attention of the potential donor.
Tania said: “They messaged me via Facebook, as I’d been sharing the article on there – that’s where they saw my appeal.
“I was very overwhelmed.”
Tania said the relevant paperwork has been completed and tests are currently underway to see the pair are a match.
‘Keeping my fingers crossed’
She has a rare blood group and tissue type, which means she is likely to face a longer wait than other people on the national donor register.
Tania said: “Southmead Hospital have said there’s no medical reason the next steps can’t happen. Blood tests [are needed] to see if they are a match and they need to get their BMI down.
“So, it’s just waiting now, but keeping my fingers crossed.”
Tania first started having dialysis for kidney failure in March 2023 and currently has it three times a week for four hours at a time.
She told the Voice her illness has had a severe impact on family life and she is no longer able to support her younger child the way she needs “until I get a transplant and have recovered”.
Tania is desperate to “have my family back together and get our lives on track again” after her illness has had a devastating effect on her family life.
Whatever the outcome of the tests, Tania is urging more people to consider becoming a live donor and take a test.
She said: “If not a match for me, someone else out there is hoping for a donor and the person who has come forward could be a match for them.”
Anyone who is interested in becoming a live donor for Tania can call Southmead Hospital on 0117 414 5295 and say they are interested in being tested as a match for Tania Allen.
Charity Kidney Care UK is also backing the call for live donors.
Policy director Fiona Loud said: “Many people don’t realise that you can donate a kidney to someone and live perfectly well with just one kidney – those who have done so say it is one of the greatest things they have ever done.”
For more information about becoming a living donor, visit the Kidney Care UK website.
Kidney Care UK runs a support line on 0808 801 0000 and offers email support at support@kidneycareuk.org.