Julie gives the gift of life (From Warrington Guardian)

Julie gives the gift of life

SELFLESS sister Julie Cunningham has transformed the life of her brother by donating one of her kidneys.

David Chandler, aged 31, had spent more than two years on dialysis before undergoing the life-changing surgery.

He is now well on the road to recovery, and enjoying watching his two-year-old son Ethan grow up.

Mr Chandler lives in Moorland Road, Biddulph, and is a self-employed joiner by trade.

Mrs Cunningham, aged 42, lives in Daven Road, Congleton, and she and her mother Maureen, aged 63, from Howey Lane, donated a kidney to Mr Chandler.

Maureen donated her kidney last October, but it had to be removed within a day of the transplant operation because of blood supply problems.

The transplant of Mrs Cunningham's kidney took place three weeks ago at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, and has been a success.

There is no guarantee of how many years Mr Chandler's new kidney will give him, but he is positive about the future.

"I would like to thank my sister and mother for what they have done for me," said Mr Chandler.

"They are both extremely brave, and my wife Carol has been a great support, as has my whole family.

"I'm looking forward to spending more time with my family, especially Ethan, who will be three in December."

Mrs Cunningham, who is a bookkeeper at MDA in Worrall Street, Congleton, said her brother had been an "inspiration."

"He has been so brave, and even when his kidney problem was diagnosed I never heard him complain," she said.

She thanked Dr Timothy Kingston, who arranged for a desperately-ill Mr Chandler to have a blood test when he went to have a mole on his back checked out.

"David was told his kidneys had totally collapsed, and Dr Kingston saved his life.

"My mother and I decided to donate our kidneys when David was diagnosed, and I began to have my tests in November.

"After the operation the hospital put his bed next to mine, and David thanked me.

"I told him to have a long life, and we just hugged.

"The doctors said to find two kidney matches within the family was very lucky, and I hope David gets many years from his new kidney."

To contact the organ donor line ring 0845-6060400.