‘Donating my kidney to a stranger finds really meaningful’

A 40 -year -old woman from County Down has become a 100th man from Northern Ireland, who has donated a kidney to a stranger.

Ellie Cuckoo helped a six -year -old boy from England, who had never been donated by donating so that she could undergo a successful life -saving kidney transplant.

Important achievement is seen as a historical moment for organ donation and was marked at a special reception in Stormont on Wednesday, where Ellie met Anne Page, the first person to donate to a stranger in North Ireland, in North Ireland. .

“It’s I think I have really done something meaningful and I have helped someone for a long time,” Ellie said.

Donating a kidney to a stranger was initially illegal in Britain until shortly 2011.

Ellie said that her inspiration to donate her kidney was her friend who is going through dialysis and is still waiting for a donor.

“Initially I went to test to see if I was a match for him and I was not, but if I was considering donating to a person, I do it for someone else too I can. “

Ellie said that the whole process was very straightforward.

“It was so easy from the beginning to the end, the team is incredible and you feel that four weeks out I have returned to 95% fitness, and climbed on the hill over the last weekend.”

Speaking at the Stormont reception, Anne Page said she “never looked back from day and hour” she donated.

He gave a London person one of his kidneys, both of them on kidney dialysis after searching for his father -in -law and good friend.

“My message for others This is a very meaningful thing and you can save someone’s life.

“When I got the first letter from the man when I helped, I was sad to hear what he was through an 11 -year -old dialysis, and it made me feel very humble.

“When he said that thanks, okay, you still have a wee tear,” he said.

Ellie said that he has a nephew who is in the form of a boy who received his kidney.

“Knowing that I have helped someone like my nephew, I really like it.

“When I am 60 years old, my kidney will be going to the university with her.”

Anne said that the first person to donate kidney to a stranger surrounded many people.

“People were standing outside my door in the hospital ward, saying: ‘Is this woman here?”

“To feel that there are now 100 people who have done it amazing.”

Health Minister Mike Nesbit, who also participated in the event, said that it was “a pleasure to meet philanthropic people who have a sense of humanity”.

“I spend a lot of time to face challenges how we do things better, so say to say that the renal unit is world class – and I repeat that it is world class.

“We should celebrate people like Anne and Eli who are so selfless that they are ready to give part of their body, one of their organs, so that they do not know anyone.”

Consultant Iceling Courtney, who managed the Living Donation Transplant Program, said it was encouraging Anne and Ellie to see “such a separate such a separate” in the world “.

“I think we are a philanthropic group of people in Northern Ireland and our goal in the program is to make it as easy as possible to donate it.”

“It is beautiful to see how the initial and late results of how you can come with two healthy kidneys – yes you have a little pain and discomfort, but the recovery is quick.”