Sister flies 4,000 miles to give Carlisle man fresh hope of life
Last updated 13:24, Saturday, 22 November 2008
A woman who flew 4,000 miles to give her brother the gift of life has spoken of her decision to give him a kidney.
Devoted sister Fiona Wood returned to Cumbria this week from the US to prepare for the operation in the hope older brother, Ian Morrison, will end years of dialysis.
Ian, of Upperby, has suffered kidney failure for 30 years following an industrial accident.
Since then, the 62-year-old’s life has been dominated by hospital visits, medication and dialysis. He had to stop working as a service engineer 11 years ago.
And he is unable to fully enjoy family life with his three children, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Ian said: “Doctors have said if I stopped dialysis I would be dead within a week to 10 days.”
But his sister has brought new hope from across the Atlantic.
“It has been so hard to be aware of how much sicker Ian has become.
“He was an active person – active with his kids, fishing, decorating and out in the garden. He always took such good care of his family,” she said.
“It always seemed incredibly unfair that I always had such good health.
“There have been occasions over the last two or three years where we did not think he would last until the morning.”
The siblings have always been close, growing up in Brampton and attending the White House Grammar School.
But 17 years ago, Fiona moved to Pennsylvania to work as human resources vice president for Phillips Health Division.
Fiona’s gift to Ian came after his hopes of a transplant were dashed at the last minute eight years ago.
Ian said: “I got called in to the hospital in Newcastle to be the potential recipient of a donor kidney. There were three of us called for the two kidneys available, but I did not get one.”
Ian’s wife Catherine was not a match.
“So my sister said ‘Well, I’ll have a go’ and her kidney was suitable,” he added.
But at the time, Fiona’s two children were in their teens and she was bringing them up alone. Ian felt it was not appropriate for her to undertake the risks.
But this year, Fiona suggested they begin the process.
She said: “It was not a difficult decision. And I knew I could live a healthy life with one kidney.”
The pair spent this week undergoing tests to prove they are emotionally and physically ready for the operations at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital on November 23.
Ian said: “It’s the best possible match, but there’s no guarantee my body won’t reject it.”
If all goes well he should feel a major improvement within a week of the transplant.
The pair are planning to gather family together for Christmas and hope to be toasting the operation’s success.
They are keen to stress the importance of joining the NHS Donor Register.
Fiona said: “There is such a shortage of donors and over 5,000 people are on the waiting list in this country.”
Register online at www.uktransplant.org.uk or by calling 0845 60 60 400.
