Leeds City Council has urgently appealed for a kidney donor for 12-year-old Jack, who is battling chronic kidney failure and has seen his health rapidly decline. With dialysis no longer effective, Jack desperately needs a living donor, and potential helpers can find support through Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust and the NHS Organ Donation resources.
What is the urgent appeal for a kidney donor in Leeds about?
Leeds City Council has issued an urgent public plea for a kidney donor for a 12-year-old boy named Jack, who is in chronic kidney failure and under their care. The council stresses the critical need for a living kidney donor to save Jack’s life, as his condition has severely deteriorated. Potential donors must meet specific health criteria and will receive full support from Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust during the process.
The Call for a Lifesaving Donation
In a deeply moving appeal, Leeds City Council has made a public request to the residents of Leeds and beyond. The urgent appeal seeks a matching kidney donor for a 12-year-old boy, known as Jack, who has been under the council’s care since 2022. Diagnosed with chronic kidney failure before his first birthday, Jack has been on a transplant waiting list for over three years. Sadly, his condition has recently deteriorated, leaving him on his last treatment option. Janine Craven, a delivery manager with the council, reflects on Jack’s dire situation, “This is a lovely young boy who has very sadly spent most of his childhood in and out of hospital. We have been told by his medical team that if his current treatment fails, there are no other options left for him.”
Jack’s health has reached a critical point where dialysis, previously administered at home, can no longer sustain him. The switch to in-hospital treatment restricts his ability to lead a normal childhood, attending school, and socializing. “This is having a really negative impact on his life and emotional well-being,” Janine adds. Despite his resilience, the need for a kidney donor is more acute than ever.
The Impact of Donation and the Process
Councillor Helen Hayden, executive member for children and families, has made an unprecedented plea for Jack’s cause, emphasizing the transformative power of a kidney transplant. Highlighting the situation’s gravity, she says, “To publicly appeal like this about a child in our care is a first for us at the council, but we strongly feel this action should be taken, and urgently, to help him.”
The process of becoming a kidney donor is stringent and involves various health checks to ensure the safety and compatibility of the donor. Potential donors must meet specific criteria, including an age range of 18 to 55, UK residency, the absence of certain health conditions, and a BMI of less than 30. Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, responsible for over 5,800 kidney transplants since 1967, ensures that all potential donors receive thorough guidance throughout the process.
Surinder Sapal, who donated her kidney to a young child, speaks from experience about the profound impact of such an act, “I have done it voluntarily and would absolutely advocate that if you could do it and can do it, then go and do it. This child needs your help.” Her testament adds a deeply personal dimension to the appeal, underscoring the life-changing difference a donation can make.
Supporting Facts and How to Help
The call for assistance is bolstered by compelling evidence about the benefits and success of living donor transplants. Jo James, a transplant coordinator, stresses that kidneys from living donors have a higher success rate and can last significantly longer than those from deceased donors. Moreover, for children like Jack, a successful transplant is not just a medical treatment but a pathway to a normal and independent childhood.
For those considering donation, Leeds City Council has provided extensive resources and support. Potential donors are encouraged to visit the NHS Organ Donation page for information on kidney donation and to learn more about the experience of former kidney donors at the charity website Donate A Kidney. Additionally, direct inquiries can be made via email at leedskidneyappeal@nhs.net.
Fact File:
- A kidney from a living donor offers the best chances of success.
- Volunteers undergo a series of tests to determine their suitability.
- A Living Donor Coordinator supports donors throughout the process.
- The assessment usually spans at least three months but can vary.
- The actual surgery is often completed within two to three hours.
- Most donors can return home the day after surgery.
- Recovery typically extends from four to eight weeks.
- A UK scheme enables donors to reclaim necessary expenses, including loss of earnings and travel costs.
Readers with the capacity to help or seeking more insight on living kidney donation can refer to the comprehensive fact sheets provided by the NHS Organ Donation.
Source: Living kidney donation fact sheets – NHS Organ Donation
- Leeds City Council has issued an urgent appeal for a kidney donor for 12-year-old Jack, who is suffering from chronic kidney failure.
- Jack has been on a transplant waiting list for over three years and has seen his health rapidly decline, with dialysis no longer being effective.
- The council emphasizes the importance of finding a living kidney donor to save Jack’s life and provides support through Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust.
- Potential donors must meet specific health criteria, including age, residency, health conditions, and BMI, and they will receive guidance throughout the donation process.
- Living donor transplants are known to have a higher success rate and can significantly improve the quality of life for recipients like Jack.