Elderslie woman thanks friend for 'miracle' kidney transplant

Carole Murphy was one of the donors of 12 kidney transplants completed within a week at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.

She joined the UK Living Kidney Sharing Scheme (UKLKSS) with her friend Maria Walsh, from Elderslie, who required a kidney transplant.

The duo met on holiday in Ibiza over 40 years ago and they have been friends ever since.

Unfortunately, when doctors told Maria that she needed a kidney, Carole was not a match for her but she knew that she could still help her by joining the sharing scheme.

This started in April 2007 because many ‘difficult to match’ patients had friends and family who wanted to donate a kidney but were not a compatible match by blood group or tissue (HLA) type.

Carole and Maria (Image: Supplied)

Staff at the Renal Ward (Image: Supplied)

If a patient enters the scheme with their friend or family member, the pair may be matched with another pair in the scheme so that each recipient receives a kidney from the other’s friend or family member.

Maria said: "I will never have the words to thank Carole enough. She has given me a miracle. Right from the start she said that she would donate to me and that, if she didn’t match, she would join the sharing scheme.

"It is an unbelievable gift.

"I also thank the altruistic donor of my kidney. Without their kindness and the scheme, we also wouldn’t be here.”

Carole said: “We started this process just nine months ago and it has flown in. We cannot describe the level of care and kindness that we have had from the transplant and nursing teams from start to finish.

"Both of us would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has cared for us on our journey and to the full Renal Ward team.

"They have been incredibly busy and yet gone above and beyond for us."

People can also donate to the scheme without having a partner or knowing anyone who needs a donation.