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A devoted son swapped the sunny climes of Queensland for a frosty winter in Britain this year in order to give his father the ultimate gift – a new kidney.
Joshua Andrew, 23, was travelling in Australia when he got the call from his family in Southgate that his father David’s kidney function was declining.
David, 57, was suffering from chronic kidney disease – a result of chemotherapy he received around ten years ago for non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
And so at the end of last summer, Joshua, who was in the Gold Coast at the time, returned to Britain to begin preparations for the operation.
This is the second time that a donation from Joshua has saved David’s life – he previously donated bone-marrow as part of David’s cancer treatment. It means the pair have matching immune systems and Joshua’s kidney was a perfect match for David.
Following their operations at the Royal Free Hospital in January, the pair are now recovering at home.
Joshua said: “The main thing was that I knew I wanted to help my dad. The nursing and surgery team at the Royal Free Hospital talked through every aspect of what was about to happen.”
David added: “The team here have been great. I was nervous about it for Joshua, but they really put us at ease and explained everything clearly.”
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Joshua praised his mum Lois and the living donor team for helping them both get through their operations.
“My mum knew every appointment we needed to be at, every blood test and check-up, while supporting us both and making sure we were as ready as possible for the donation,” he said. “It would have been impossible to do this without her.
“Alison in the donor team was always so polite and put me at ease for any query or issue I had. You can tell that the nurses, doctors and everyone in the hospital really care about their patients.”
The operation went ahead despite David being in a serious bike accident in which he broke his neck at the beginning of last year.
He underwent emergency surgery and extensive rehabilitation and slowly built up his strength again.
I’ve really had to adjust. I’ve got my mobility back, but my right leg is still weak,” David explained. “I can’t run, and I haven’t ridden a bike since then, and I don’t know if I ever will again."
Despite this, David is keen to get involved with charity work. “If my recovery goes well I really want to give back to others through charity and possibly talk to people about my story,” he said. “I’ve tried to remain positive throughout everything and hopefully I can help others through similar situations.”
Joshua, who said he had made friends for life during his travels, said he hopes to be able to return to Australia in the near future.
Lois added: “I am so proud of them both, it's actually difficult to put into words. David, for always just accepting what has been thrown at him and getting on with whatever treatment he requires to give him the best chance. Josh, for just saying ‘well why wouldn't I do it for my dad?’”
Alison Richardson, the live donor coordinator who helped the pair through their treatment, said Joshua is a remarkable young man.
“He is delighted that he has been able to do this for his dad and it has been a pleasure to look after him,” she said. “He is only 23 and he has saved his dad not once, but twice.”
Organ failure and transplantation is one of the key pillars of the trust’s clinical strategy. Click here to learn more.
