just one phone call could change kyle's life MEET THE FACE OF OUR CAMPAIGN, A BRAVE WEE SIX-YEAR-OLD FROM BELLSHILL WHO'S WAITING FOR A KIDNEY TRANSPLANT

ONE day little Kyle Aitken hopes to get the phone call that could change his life.

Loading Comments
Share
Print

The six-year-old has a rare condition that has left him with chronic kidney failure.

His family have been told that he will need a kidney transplant in around five years to give him the best chance of survival.

However, donor kidneys are in short supply.

Around 300 people across the UK die every year while waiting for a transplant.

The number of people with kidney failure is rising and is expected to continue rising as the population ages, further increasing the demand for donors.

Children and young people who have kidney failure receive priority for transplantation.

However Kyle's family believe a change to an 'opt-out' system of organ donation would improve Kyle's chances of getting a match, and also make it faster.

Mum Caryn, 24, from Bellshill, Lanarkshire, said: "I'm studying nursing so I actually know quite a bit about opt-out.

"I think we should definitely move towards this system, as there are so many children like Kyle who need transplants.

"If something happens to you and you are not on the existing donor register, it's a hard decision for your family to make.

"It would make it so much easier for relatives if we changed the system."

Kyle was born with a rare condition that affects only one in 800 babies and means urine cannot flow freely out of the bladder.

He had surgery when he was only three days old and was in intensive care for four weeks.

He then spent another three months in the renal unit of Yorkhill Hospital.

It was found one of Kyle's kidneys did not work and the other worked to only 40% of its capacity.

Since then, it has failed further, processing only 30% of what it should.

The youngster, who is a pupil at Lawmuir Primary in Bellshill, Lanarkshire, attends Yorkhill Hospital every couple of months and is on three different types of medication.

In time, his one working kidney will shut down and he will be put on dialysis and the organ transplant waiting list.

Caryn said: "Kyle knows a lot about organ donation. I've never held it back from him.

"He knows he needs to get one.

"Kyle is such a good little boy. You wouldn't think there was anything wrong with him, he just gets on with things."

caroline.wilson@ eveningtimes.co.uk

Commenting & Moderation

We moderate all comments on Evening Times on either a pre-moderated or post-moderated basis. If you're a relatively new user then your comments will be reviewed before publication and if we know you well then your comments will be subject to moderation only if other users or the moderators believe you've broken the rules, which are available here.

Moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours. Please be patient if your posts are not approved instantly.

90168

Have you got a story?

Contact the news desk on 0141 302 6520 or email news@eveningtimes.co.uk

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Latest looks and shopping news

Latest looks and shopping news

Fashion

Read all about the promising young fashion designer from Glasgow whose little black dress is already a sell-out at M&S

Michelle McManus
Ask the Doctor - Help and advice about medical problems from Dr George Crooks

Ask the Doctor

Help and advice about medical problems from Dr George Crooks

Pothole Watch - Keeping you up to date with all the latest stories, photos and comments on Glasgow’s pesky potholes

Sinking streets:

Pothole Watch

Keeping you up to date with all the latest stories, photos and comments on Glasgow’s pesky potholes

Laying down the Law - Ask Austin Lafferty for legal advice on everything from debt to divorce

Laying down the Law

Ask Austin Lafferty for legal advice on everything from debt to divorce