100th kidney transplant is a first for Addenbrooke’s

Patient Paul Fox is celebrating receiving the 100th transplanted kidney at Addenbrooke’s Hospital this year in a six-hour operation on Tuesday 7 November.

The 31-year-old from Ipswich said he felt “excited” to be making history. This is the first time the hospital has achieved 100 transplant operations of the same type in one year.

Paul and Valerie recovering after their operations

Before the operation, Paul’s only working kidney was undersized which meant that he needed dialysis for two and a half years, for over 11 hours a day. Paul’s operation was made possible because his mother Valerie decided to donate one of her kidneys.

Paul said “Although I was shocked and worried about my mum when I first found out I needed the operation, it went well.” Paul is now looking forward to getting home to his partner Debbie and 10-month-old daughter Vanessa.

Valerie Fox said: “It’s amazing to be able to give a kidney to my son. It didn’t take a lot of deciding.” Valerie, who works in a warehouse, said she had a lot of help from her employers. “They’ve been great and have really been supporting me,” she said. Valerie will be glad to get back home to Rotherham in the next few days.

Professor Andrew Bradley, Clinical Director for Transplant, said: “The number of kidney transplants undertaken at Addenbrooke's hospital has been steadily increasing over the last few years and has now risen to an all time local record high. Although the majority of kidneys for transplantation still come from deceased donors an increasing number are from living donors giving a kidney to their friend or relative. Organ donation is the ultimate gift and our work is only possible through the courage and generosity of donors and their families.”

Paul and Valerie with some of the staff who made their operation possible

 

Notes to editors

• Addenbrooke’s is a world leader in transplant surgery and one of the largest units in the UK for organ transplantation.

• The transplant unit has played an important role in the research and evolution of clinical transplantation over the last 40 years. Some of its achievements include the first liver transplant outside the USA in 1968, the world’s first combined heart, lung and liver transplant with Papworth NHS Trust in 1986 and the first small bowel transplant in the UK in 1992. The unit remains at the forefront for studies into the use of immunosuppressive agents.

• Four different types of transplants are performed at the hospital – liver, kidney, combined pancreas and kidney, and intestinal transplantation.

• Anyone can join the NHS Organ Donor Register by telephoning the Organ Donor Line on 0845 60 60 400 or by visiting www.uktransplant.org.uk