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| Dad promised I would get better...and he made it happen | Dad promised I would get better...and he made it happen |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| As a fire station master, Alex Hume knows more than most about saving lives. | As a fire station master, Alex Hume knows more than most about saving lives. |
| When his daughter Kayleigh fell seriously ill, he promised her he'd make sure she'd get better. | When his daughter Kayleigh fell seriously ill, he promised her he'd make sure she'd get better. |
| Kayleigh, 25, has the genetic condition Alport syndrome, which can lead to kidney failure. | |
| Alex said: "It was late teens when we knew that things were deteriorating and she was going to start dialysis, and ultimately require a kidney transplant. | Alex said: "It was late teens when we knew that things were deteriorating and she was going to start dialysis, and ultimately require a kidney transplant. |
| "Because I always knew that Kayleigh had kidney problems, I always hoped I would be a match for her." | "Because I always knew that Kayleigh had kidney problems, I always hoped I would be a match for her." |
| Low point | Low point |
| Unfortunately, they had incompatible blood groups. He would not be considered as a potential donor for Kayleigh, who is from Penicuik in Midlothian. | |
| Kayleigh's mother also has the condition and had a successful transplant 17 years ago from a deceased donor. | Kayleigh's mother also has the condition and had a successful transplant 17 years ago from a deceased donor. |
| At first, Kayleigh adapted well to the routine of dialysis. She attended the renal unit at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary at the same time - three days a week for three hours of treatment. | At first, Kayleigh adapted well to the routine of dialysis. She attended the renal unit at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary at the same time - three days a week for three hours of treatment. |
| Alex signed up to a paired exchange programme, which aims to help incompatible pairs of recipient/donors to find another pair within the UK. | Alex signed up to a paired exchange programme, which aims to help incompatible pairs of recipient/donors to find another pair within the UK. |
| "I would donate to them and they would donate to Kayleigh, and ultimately we'd all get what we needed," Alex explained. | "I would donate to them and they would donate to Kayleigh, and ultimately we'd all get what we needed," Alex explained. |
| Two and a half years passed without a suitable donor being found. | Two and a half years passed without a suitable donor being found. |
| Alex said: "That was quite a low point, knowing that Kayleigh was ill and on dialysis waiting on a transplant, and probably a lot of frustration from me because I was wanting to donate but we weren't finding any matches." | Alex said: "That was quite a low point, knowing that Kayleigh was ill and on dialysis waiting on a transplant, and probably a lot of frustration from me because I was wanting to donate but we weren't finding any matches." |
| By Christmas 2016, dialysis was leaving Kayleigh exhausted. | By Christmas 2016, dialysis was leaving Kayleigh exhausted. |
| "I just wanted to sleep all the time," she said. "I wasn't really interested in Christmas. | "I just wanted to sleep all the time," she said. "I wasn't really interested in Christmas. |
| "My whole life was controlled from having to be at the hospital. I never had the chance to feel well." | "My whole life was controlled from having to be at the hospital. I never had the chance to feel well." |
| She had looked on as other patients at the renal unit had left to have kidney transplants. | She had looked on as other patients at the renal unit had left to have kidney transplants. |
| "It was really bittersweet because you'd be so happy that they'd got one, but you'd also wish it had been you," she said. | "It was really bittersweet because you'd be so happy that they'd got one, but you'd also wish it had been you," she said. |
| Life-changing news | Life-changing news |
| Now she desperately needed a donor, but she found it a difficult issue to discuss. | Now she desperately needed a donor, but she found it a difficult issue to discuss. |
| "Everybody knows you are ill, but nobody really talks about it," she said. | "Everybody knows you are ill, but nobody really talks about it," she said. |
| "Some people would say 'I would donate to you', but then maybe never bring it up again." | "Some people would say 'I would donate to you', but then maybe never bring it up again." |
| Then, after three years of waiting, Alex and Kayleigh suddenly got the life-changing news they'd hoped for. | Then, after three years of waiting, Alex and Kayleigh suddenly got the life-changing news they'd hoped for. |
| Surgeons were now prepared to proceed with Alex as a potential donor for Kayleigh. | Surgeons were now prepared to proceed with Alex as a potential donor for Kayleigh. |
| It had become possible to carry out blood group incompatible transplants using specialist techniques, which removes antibodies from the blood. | It had become possible to carry out blood group incompatible transplants using specialist techniques, which removes antibodies from the blood. |
| "When my dad said he would definitely do it, it was quite an overwhelming feeling actually," Kayleigh said. | "When my dad said he would definitely do it, it was quite an overwhelming feeling actually," Kayleigh said. |
| Alex had to prepare himself for major surgery, something he said he had been "a bit naive" about. | Alex had to prepare himself for major surgery, something he said he had been "a bit naive" about. |
| "It's quite an invasive procedure - they're moving a major organ for transplantation," he said. | "It's quite an invasive procedure - they're moving a major organ for transplantation," he said. |
| "It was very mixed emotions because, having waited so long to find out things had progressed, there was elation. | "It was very mixed emotions because, having waited so long to find out things had progressed, there was elation. |
| "But at the same time there was a degree of trepidation and nervousness." | "But at the same time there was a degree of trepidation and nervousness." |
| Both operations went smoothly and they were soon on their feet again, with Kayleigh feeling better the moment she woke up from the operation. | Both operations went smoothly and they were soon on their feet again, with Kayleigh feeling better the moment she woke up from the operation. |
| "My dad said from the start when I got really ill that he'd make sure I got better and then he did that for me," she said. | "My dad said from the start when I got really ill that he'd make sure I got better and then he did that for me," she said. |
| Alex's recovery took about six weeks and he returned to work after 10 weeks. | Alex's recovery took about six weeks and he returned to work after 10 weeks. |
| "The benefit of live donation is that I've been able to see the benefits that it's brought to Kayleigh," he said. | "The benefit of live donation is that I've been able to see the benefits that it's brought to Kayleigh," he said. |
| "It's a fantastic feeling." | "It's a fantastic feeling." |
| Kayleigh has described it as the best Christmas present a dad could give. | Kayleigh has described it as the best Christmas present a dad could give. |
| "I don't know how I'm going to top it," she said. "I'll have to get him something really good." | "I don't know how I'm going to top it," she said. "I'll have to get him something really good." |