This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-37025389
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Woman with 100-year-old kidney from mum 'still going strong' | Woman with 100-year-old kidney from mum 'still going strong' |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| A woman with a 100-year-old kidney has credited its longevity on coming from "good stock". She would know - it came from her mother. | A woman with a 100-year-old kidney has credited its longevity on coming from "good stock". She would know - it came from her mother. |
| Sue Westhead was 25 when she was diagnosed with kidney disease in 1973. | Sue Westhead was 25 when she was diagnosed with kidney disease in 1973. |
| When told a transplant was her only chance of survival, her mother Ann Metcalfe, then aged 57, donated her kidney to her daughter. | When told a transplant was her only chance of survival, her mother Ann Metcalfe, then aged 57, donated her kidney to her daughter. |
| Now Sue, 68, and her kidney are "still going strong", defying medical predictions over the organ's lifespan. | Now Sue, 68, and her kidney are "still going strong", defying medical predictions over the organ's lifespan. |
| She said: "I think it's down to my mother's good genes. She must have come from good stock." | She said: "I think it's down to my mother's good genes. She must have come from good stock." |
| Sue, of Houghton-le-Spring, County Durham, had only one tenth of normal renal function when she was diagnosed. | |
| Recalling the time, she said: "I could hardly walk, I was a different colour - I was yellow and all of a sudden I had a rosy glow. | Recalling the time, she said: "I could hardly walk, I was a different colour - I was yellow and all of a sudden I had a rosy glow. |
| "It was a pretty scary time, even when I was still on the ward people were dying. | "It was a pretty scary time, even when I was still on the ward people were dying. |
| "My mum literally gave me life because I wouldn't have lived much longer." | "My mum literally gave me life because I wouldn't have lived much longer." |
| Doctors usually estimate a transplant from a living donor will last 20 years at most. | Doctors usually estimate a transplant from a living donor will last 20 years at most. |
| But Sue said hers is "still going strong" 43 years on, adding she has looked after herself and taken 20 pills a day to make sure the kidney was not rejected. | But Sue said hers is "still going strong" 43 years on, adding she has looked after herself and taken 20 pills a day to make sure the kidney was not rejected. |
| She said: "I remember thinking if I get five years I'll be happy. | She said: "I remember thinking if I get five years I'll be happy. |
| "That was 43 years ago and my kidney is heading for 101 years old in November. | |
| "You just have to get on with life, not play the victim and wrap yourself in cotton wool." | "You just have to get on with life, not play the victim and wrap yourself in cotton wool." |
| In 1973, only between 30% and 40% of transplanted kidneys lasted for five years. | |
| The family's story featured in local newspapers as living donor transplants were still relatively rare at the time. | The family's story featured in local newspapers as living donor transplants were still relatively rare at the time. |
| Prof Derek Manas, president of the British Transplantation Society, said: "It's an amazing story of encouragement and hope for people on dialysis and for encouraging people to donate as living donors or to join the Organ Donor Register. | |
| "I think Sue must be one of the longest survivors." | "I think Sue must be one of the longest survivors." |