Lichfield pensioner receives kidney transplant after brother donates organ

Apr 5 2011 by Anuji Varma, Sunday Mercury

Danny Arch and his sister Pat Turner from Lichfield

AS A little boy Danny Arch always looked up to his older sister.

Despite a 21-year age gap he had a close relationship with Patricia Turner, with people often mistaking them for mother and son.

Now their bond is stronger than ever after Danny gave his diabetic sister the most precious gift she could have – his kidney.

Caring Patricia, 65 and from Lichfield, had tried to shield her brother from the truth as she did not want him to lose an organ.

For four years the retired community care worker, known as Pat to her family, endured tiring dialysis process as medics searched for a donor.

But then Danny, 44, watched a TV programme about organ transplants last January – and realised he could help save his sister’s life.

“I phoned Pat and told her I was coming over to speak about something important straight after the show,” he explained.

“I spoke to my wife and daughter and they both agreed I should donate one of my kidneys.

“I felt so guilty that I didn’t know that she could have taken a kidney from a live donor.

“I drove to Pat’s house and delivered the news. She just hugged me and we both broke down.”

Gran Patricia added: “I never told my family that they could possibly donate as I didn’t want to put them at risk.

“When Danny said he wanted to do it, I asked him: ‘Are you sure about this?’. He told me he hadn’t been so sure about anything in his life.”

Within a few days Danny was undergoing vital tests to check his fitness and his organs, to ensure he was well enough to donate.

“I had a full MOT and they found that I could go ahead,” he said.

“I was just really pleased that I could do something to help Pat.”

The dad-of-one cut down on his drinking and lost weight before the major operation at Coventry’s Walsgrave Hospital.

“Before the operation I wanted to be at my fittest and weeks beforehand I gave up drinking completely,” he recalled.

“I’d usually sink about 10 pints over a weekend but that stopped too. D’you know, I never missed it, especially as I knew it was for such a good cause.

“I was lucky that my kidneys were in good condition.”

Six months later the pair were ready for the operation.