A BASINGSTOKE mum who is waiting for a life-saving kidney transplant said she has been “overwhelmed” by the support from people in the town.

As previously reported, Stephanie Digance’s family made a desperate plea for a kidney donor to save their mum’s life after her health condition deteriorated when she caught Covid.

Read more: Family's desperate plea for kidney donor to save mum's life

The 41-year-old mum-of-five was taken into hospital last year and given the devastating news that she has stage five kidney disease – the most severe – and needs a kidney transplant.

Since the article appeared in the Gazette, people have come forward to enquire about testing to see if they are a match with Stephanie.

The mum, who works as a learning support assistant at The Priory School, said the number of people who had come forward was “phenomenal and so overwhelming”.

She added: “We all know how generous and coming together the Basingstoke and surrounding areas are as we read about lovely stories every day but to be on the receiving end is on another level.

"Just to have people talking about living donors is big and how awesome would it be, even if it only brought one person in need together with one hero willing to give, if it led to a match.”

Stephanie said the messages of support had kept her family going, explaining: “I had so many messages from strangers showing compassion and support, in a world feeling divided, that it makes me emotional just to think about.

“The same for my eldest Tonimarie, people shared their stories with her, sent messages of support and that comforted her - at the only time in my life that I couldn't - which gave her strength to carry on her job, help keep the house running and help support with her younger siblings Cameron, 17 Ciaran, 16 and Isla, 14.”

The mum said she has been struggling with the thought of leaving her children behind and told the Gazette: “Mentally, I'm struggling with being that ill. I lost my mum nearly 15 years ago and it was the single most heart-breaking thing I have ever been through. I then gave birth a week later and I never want my children to feel such pain.”

However, Stephanie did receive some positive news when she was told her kidneys have recovered from the infection, meaning she may not need dialysis for up to six months.

She said: “I am so grateful to not be in that position just yet, no matter how inevitable. Thousands of people have suffered dialysis for years, I consider myself very lucky being only a year on the transplant list.”

Stephanie is now looking forward to getting back to work and is hopeful that a match will be found for a kidney.

While there is a chance a kidney could come from a deceased person, this is usually higher risk, meaning she is relying on the kindness of a stranger to volunteer as an altruistic living donor.

In the UK, more than 1,000 people each year donate a kidney or part of their liver while they are still alive to a relative, friend, or stranger.

NHS Blood and Transplant is urging people to consider donating blood or organs this year, after a survey carried out in December 2021 ranked organ donation as the top most important thing someone could do to make a difference to people’s lives.

It is also urging people to make their wishes about donating organs after death known to family.

In 2020 – 2021, across the UK, 3,391 people had their lives saved thanks to the generosity of 1,180 people who donated their organs after death.

Even though organ donation has moved to an opt out system across England, Scotland and Wales, families will still always be consulted before donation goes ahead.

This means it is still just as important as ever to let your family know what you want to happen and record it on the NHS Organ Donor Register.

Helen Duggan, assistant director of marketing and creative services at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “New Year is a time when lots of people make resolutions to make a change for the better, but many of these resolutions don’t last longer than a few days or weeks and many people feel disheartened when they fail.

“Instead, we want to highlight the simple ways that people can feel good by making a positive change and help to save lives – by donating blood or by having a conversation with their loved ones about their organ donation decision and registering as an organ donor.

“We’re heartened to see the results of this survey which shows altruistic giving is still a top priority for people and as we begin a new year we hope that feeling of giving will continue to shape our communities.”

You can save three lives in just one hour by donating blood. Register today and book and appointment by calling 0300 123 23 23, downloading the GiveBloodNHS app, or visiting blood.co.uk.

Find out about organ donation, and register your organ donation decision, at organdonation.co.uk or call 0300 123 23 23. Users of the NHS app can also use this to check, update or register their decision.

Anyone who would like to be tested as a match for Stephanie should contact Wessex Kidney Centre on pho-tr.portsmouthkidney@nhs.net.

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