KIlwinning woman's life was saved after niece donated kidney

Helen Burns, 67, underwent a transplant after her niece Claire Hume, 36, made the exceptional gift of a kidney back in 2018.

Five years on, Helen and Claire are happy and healthy, and are sharing their story as part of a campaign to highlight the benefits of living kidney donation.

A kidney from a living donor generally offering the best outcomes for patients in need of a transplant.

Since 1960 there have been 1905 kidney transplants from living donors in Scotland, with 95 taking place in 2023.

Claire and Helen after the transplant in 2018 (Image: Living Donation Scotland)

Helen said Claire’s gift has changed her life after she was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease in 2011.

Helen's kidney function gradually declined over the years, and in 2017 she was added to the transplant waiting list.

She faced beginning dialysis the following year, something she describes as her “biggest fear”.

Helen said: “Being told you need a kidney transplant, it really hits home how unwell you are.

"At that point, I was really tired all the time. I didn’t have any colour to me at all, my skin looked grey.

"But I was still getting by, so I hadn’t fully considered how serious my situation was. I knew how much dialysis would get in the way of my life.

"My son and two granddaughters stay in Boston in the States, and I usually make it over two or three times a year to visit them. If I had to go on dialysis, I wouldn’t be able to make those trips anymore.”

Helen’s son Colin travelled over from the States to find out if he was a match, and her sister, Alison, and nieces Claire and Louise, also came forward as potential donors.

Gordon Hume (Image: Living Donation Scotland)

Helen’s late brother-in-law Gordon – Alison’s husband and Claire and Louise’s dad – had ended up on dialysis due to complications from myeloma, and passed away in June 2014, just four weeks after his diagnosis. 

Speaking about her family’s decision to get tested for donation, Claire, also from Kilwinning, said: “Dialysis was a really unpleasant and uncomfortable experience for my dad, and we wanted to do everything we could to prevent Helen going through the same thing.

"Helen pushed back a little as she didn’t want us to go through it for her, but we were really determined.”

After the tests were complete, the family were informed that Claire would be the most suitable match, and Helen’s transplant was scheduled for October 31, 2018.

Helen said: “At the time of my transplant, my kidney function had dropped to six per cent, but I didn’t realise how ill I had been until I got Claire’s kidney.

"I instantly felt more energised and my appearance changed dramatically. I looked much brighter and healthier.

"I’d taken early retirement in 2017, so since my transplant I’ve just been able to enjoy life more.

“Alison, Claire, Louise, and other family live nearby and we’re all really close, so I get to see them a lot, and I’m able to continue visiting my son and his family in America.

"I’m so grateful to all my family who came forward to donate a kidney, and I’ll never be able to repay Claire for what she did for me.

"She’s given me a life I wouldn’t be able to have otherwise and I’m thankful every day.”

Claire said: “I wasn’t that nervous about my surgery. I was just really pleased that my aunt Helen was going to get a kidney and that she was going to avoid dialysis.

"I think my mum was the most scared because it was both her sister and her daughter undergoing surgery, but everything went well.

"We got to see Helen afterwards and it was just a great feeling that everything had gone to plan and she would be getting better soon.

"The first couple of days were quite rough, and I didn’t feel great, but after that I was fine, and after about four weeks I felt like my normal self again."

She added: “Donating a kidney doesn’t hold you back or stop you from doing the things you want to do.

"My life is the same as it was before. I work full time, I spend time with family and friends, I get out and about and am kept busy with my two dogs.

"Although it hasn’t impacted my physical health, I don’t take as many things for granted any more and I’ve got more into fitness and taking care of myself.

"If you’ve got the opportunity to be a donor, I’d say to go for it. The outcome has been 100 per cent positive for everyone and I’m so happy I could help my aunt have a better quality of life.”

Jen Lumsdaine, lead nurse for Living Donation Scotland and living donor transplant co-ordinator for NHS Lothian, said: “For those with kidney failure who are facing treatment choices, we know that talking about living donation with family and friends can be challenging.

"The more we can raise awareness of living kidney donation the easier it is to talk about it.

"We also know that living kidney donation transforms lives - and we thank the donors and their support networks for this exceptional gift.”

For more information visit www.livingdonation.scot.