A MOTHER with a life-threatening renal condition is making a public appeal to find a live kidney donor.

Mandy O’Connor, 43, has been diagnosed as suffering from stage four chronic kidney disease as well as nephritic syndrome and told she will have to go on dialysis within 12 months.

She lives in Catchgate, near Stanley, County Durham, with her three-year-old son, Aidan and partner, Graeme Whitworth, and also has an adopted 12-year-old son, Joshua, who lives with her ex-husband.

Ms O’Connor, who has suffered from diabetes since the age of 11, is compiling a list of people willing to donate one of their organs and hopes she can lead a healthy life, watching her children grow up.

She said: “If I do nothing I will die. I have got very narrow options.

“I am not scared. The only thing that bothers me is not seeing the kids grow up.”

The Northern Echo: Mandy O'Connor who has chronic kidney disease is appealing for someone to donate a kidney so she can live long enough to see her kids grow up. Mandy is pictured with her son Aiden Whitworth, 3, and partner Graeme Whitworth. Picture: TOM BANKS (29312745)
Mandy with her son Aiden Whitworth, 3,and partner Graeme Whitworth. Picture: TOM BANKS

Ms O’Connor lost her dad three years ago to kidney failure and has just 21 per cent function herself.

She said dialysis would involve three four-hour sessions a week and prolong her life expectancy considerably.

But Ms O’Connor added “You can’t live a normal life as there are all these tubes and you are constantly monitored.

“I want my kids to see me as a happy healthy mum and not grow up with a poorly mum.”

Ms Connor said she realises it is a ‘big ask’, but medical experts have said ‘altruistic’ donations are becoming increasingly common.

She said: “It is a big decision for people. I am not building my hopes up on any of this because I know it might happen or might not. I have to be realistic.”

Ms O’Connor’s consultant, Dr Shaun Fenwick, who is based at Sunderland Royal Hospital, said a live donor would give the best chance of success.

He said: “There is no evidence that only having one kidney would have any significant impact on a donor’s sense of wellbeing, quality of life, or how long they live.”

Dr Fenwick said the procedure to donate a kidney carries a one in 3,000 chance of death as a result of complications – the same as any major operation.

He added: “Once you are through that there are no long term effects.”

Linda Pickering, the regional advocacy office for the National Kidney Federation, said: “Altruistic donation is becoming the norm where people donate a kidney to a family member of somebody they do not even know.”

To contact Ms O’Connor email mand.oconnor@yahoo.co.uk or to find out more call the SRH renal unit on 0191 5656256.