Baby's kidney donation saves woman's life...
 

A five-week-old baby is a lifesaver after becoming Britain's youngest ever organ donor.

The infant's tiny kidneys were donated to 22-year-old Samira Kauser and transplanted during a seven-hour operation at St James's University Hospital in Leeds.

The organs were just 4cm long but will grow to up to three-quarters the size of a normal adult's.

Together with the liver, heart and lungs, a baby's kidneys are fully functioning after 37 weeks in the womb.

Ms Kauser, from Halifax, who was spending nine hours a night on dialysis after a genetic condition caused her kidneys to fail, told The Sunday Times she plans to get married next year.

"When I found out (the donor) was a child who had died, I felt so sad," she said.

"I thought about the parents and how much they wanted to donate and I knew I had to have the operation, even though I was scared."

She added: "Words cannot express the gratitude I feel to the parents of this baby.

"They have lost so much - much more than I can ever comprehend.

"Their only solace is that someone else has been able to carry on with their life. It's a massive gift."

The Sunday Times said the transplant had reignited the debate about whether organs from so-called "beating heart" babies, who are being kept alive on ventilators but are certified as brain dead, should be made available to patients on the donor waiting list.

It said a decision on the issue is expected within the next six months.

Transplant surgeon Niaz Ahmad, who led the team that carried out the transplant, told the newspaper: "There is such an acute shortage of organs that we're now prepared to do this.

"This case, I hope, shows that it can work."

Around 19.7 million people are on the NHS organ donor register.

More than 7,200 people are waiting for a transplant - 6,000 of whom need a new kidney.

Some 2,820 kidney transplants were carried out last year




..it's incredible that such a young kidney can be transplanted into an adult but also that the parent's of the baby had the thought to do it ..it's heart-warming to know there are some amazing and brave people out there when we're often just hearing the bad stuff....

It must be so bitter sweet to get a do or organ, knowing someone else had died. Also bitter sweet for the donors family when they know part of their loved one lives on

I keep meaning to sign myself up for organ donation

Do it marc

So long as it can grow in the normal way
after being moved from baby to adult

Raises lots of questions about possible misuse of this situation. What if a couple decided to try for a child just to harvest its kidney(s) for the mother as it would be a certain match. What if the mother had an incurable kidney disease and would die without a transplant within a year ?

Totally unethical and immoral to conceive a child purely for its organs.. Nightmarish scenario but it could happen....!!!!

That is not what's being suggested. There's no link so can't read the full text, I would hope though the parents of the 'beating heart' have a say.

The baby whose organs were donated had died though....so in this instance it's the selfless act of a grieving family and should be applauded

It should no question, it should be their decision always is my point.
How could that ever change, or is the decision to ventilate at all in question?

Yes because not everyone is paying for
the Sunday Times online deal

If I ever need an organ transplant i hope it is baby organs.