Woman donated her kidney to a stranger

This is the heartwarming moment a mother hugged the stranger who agreed to donate her kidney after a Facebook appeal. 

Mother-of-two Louise Drewery, from Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, offered to help after reading an appeal on behalf of Stacey Hewitt, who was suffering kidney failure.

Stacey's father posted a message asking: 'Is there anyone out there that would like to donate a kidney to help my daughter?'

The transplant was successful and is believed to be the first ever live organ donation in Britain to have been instigated through social media.

Louise and Stacey now share a lifelong bond after the operation was carried out at the Institute of Transplantation at Freeman Hospital in Newcastle.

Stacey, mother to three-year-old Alfie, had chronic kidney disease and without a new kidney she would have become very sick and require a lifelong dialysis.

The 26-year-old, from Redcar, was constantly tired and could only walk short distances as her kidneys failed.

Her mother and father were not suitable donors and, with an average waiting time of three years for a transplant, her family feared she couldn't wait that long.

In desperation, her father Darren posted a message on Facebook asking if anyone was willing to donate a kidney to help his daughter.

'Within seconds, my inbox went mad,' he said.

One of those responding was Louise. She said: 'My husband Nigel and I were just sitting one night having a glass of wine and we went on Facebook,' she said. 'When I saw the message I knew that if I could help, I would.'

After 13 months of tests, it was determined that Louise could donate a kidney to Stacey.

'People ask me if it's for family or a friend, but they're shocked when I say it's for a total stranger,' Louise said. 

'But Alfie is only little and deserves to have his mum there growing up.'

As the operation came closer, however, Louise began to worry about the huge sacrifice she was about to make.

'My biggest fear was not waking up and my kids being without a mum, when the reason I'm doing this is so another child isn't living without a mum.'

Stacey's grateful parents visited Louise before the operation, with Darren calling her 'an absolute hero'.

The procedure was a success and Stacey could feel the benefits immediately.

She said: 'It's amazing and I can't thank her enough. She could have backed out at any moment - it takes a lot of guts to give an organ to someone you don't know.

'It's a nice bond we have now.'

According to charity Give a Kidney, altruistic kidney donation is increasing in the UK.

In 2007/08 only six people gave a kidney but over the last two years more than 100 people have donated in this way - with that number expected to keep up in the future.

Professor Derek Manas, director of the Institute of Transplantation, said: 'A lot of people just want to give to humanity and it has opened my eyes. It's amazing that people are prepared to do this.'

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