‘My former colleague gave me his kidney’

A man who made a desperate online request for a kidney donor is now recovering from a successful transplant after a former work colleague answered the call.

Jamie Lonsdale, 36, posted the appeal on Facebook and it was seen by Lauren Lane, 30.

Mr Lonsdale, from Moonton, Greater Manchester, spent more than two years on the transplant list as his previously donated kidney began to fail in 2022.

He said, “I was just hoping that people would wish me well but to have Lauren come forward was a dream come true.”

Four times a week dialysis and other complications had begun to take their toll, even before she begged for help.

“It was a completely unexpected and huge question and I was quite embarrassed to post it on Facebook but I was very desperate,” Mr Lonsdale said.

“It was actually quite a serious situation. I wasn’t sure if I would get the call or not but I felt I had to do something.

“Lauren has made a huge sacrifice. She was fit and healthy and I was at the end of my life.”

Mr Lonsdale added: “I’ve got my life back for at least the next 20 years.”

Ms Lane, from Manchester, who is recovering from surgery, said: “We worked together for a few years and I went to work for another company.

“I just saw the appeal and realized I needed to do something.”

The PhD student also said that she had a personal reason for responding to the appeal.

“My father passed away in 2018. He was on the transplant list for a liver, but sadly he didn’t get it in time,” he said.

“I’m really lucky that all my friends and family understand my personal reasons for the things I do.”