The Ultimate Gift: Three Fathers' Life-Saving Kidney Donations
In an extraordinary demonstration of parental love, three fathers from South Yorkshire have undergone kidney donation surgery to save their children from life-limiting conditions. Dale Marshall, Liam Bridges and Jozef Pokuta all donated their kidneys at the Sheffield Kidney Institute at the Northern General Hospital this year, with their organs being transported to the paediatric transplant centre at Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham for transplantation into their children.
The children had been suffering from serious kidney conditions that would have otherwise required lifelong dialysis treatment, significantly limiting their quality of life and long-term prospects.
A Father's Promise: Dale and Austin's Story
Dale Marshall, a 40-year-old data cabling engineer from Rotherham, donated his kidney to his nine-year-old son Austin in July. Austin, who has an identical twin brother, was born with low kidney function, and his parents knew from just three days old that he would eventually need a transplant.
"As Austin grew older, his kidney function deteriorated and it began to affect him significantly," Dale explained. "He wasn't growing as much as his twin brother. We constantly worried about his weight, he suffered from itchy skin, was always tired and had much less energy than other children his age."
Approximately a year ago, the family received confirmation that Austin would benefit from a donor kidney. Both parents were tested, with Dale proving to be the most suitable match. Having always known this day might come, Dale had already made significant lifestyle changes to ensure his kidney would be in optimal condition.
"I improved my diet and stopped drinking alcohol entirely," Dale revealed. "The surgeon described it as a beautiful kidney, which was wonderful to hear after all the preparation."
The transformation in Austin has been remarkable. Within just two weeks of the transplant, he had grown three centimetres, and within six weeks he had returned to his swimming lessons. Without the donation, he would have faced a lifetime of dialysis and twice-weekly hospital visits.
"You can physically see that Austin has grown and gained strength," Dale shared. "When I collect him from school, I used to easily distinguish him from his twin brother, but after the operation I found myself questioning 'is that Austin?' He understands this is better for him and is absolutely over the moon, as is his brother."
Without Hesitation: Liam and Keeton's Journey
Liam Bridges, a 37-year-old cladder from Swinton, donated his kidney to his 14-year-old son Keeton in September. Keeton had been diagnosed with Posterior Urethral Valve (PUV), a condition where tissue blocks the urethra, which can lead to kidney failure.
The situation became critical about 18 months ago when Keeton was rushed to hospital with an infection. Tests revealed his kidney function had dropped to just 14 per cent, prompting discussions about transplantation.
"I didn't give it a second thought," Liam stated firmly. "Your children mean everything to you. Without a transplant, he would have been on dialysis, requiring trips to Nottingham every few days, which would have been incredibly difficult for him."
Following testing that confirmed their compatibility, the transplant took place in early September, with Keeton already showing significant improvement.
"He's always been quite small for his age and looked unwell, but he's already put on weight and has colour returning to his cheeks," Liam observed. "He's been out walking, visiting the supermarket - he's doing really well. Previously he had to follow a very restricted diet without any salt, so he's particularly enjoying having a few treats now. He's such a good lad - you wouldn't know everything he's been through."
Liam expressed pride in his decision, noting: "It's not going to affect my life - I can continue doing everything I did before - but it will make an enormous difference to Keeton's life."
A Daughter's Second Chance: Jozef and Shayana
Jozef Pokuta, a 28-year-old from Sheffield, donated his kidney to his eight-year-old daughter Shayana in March. Shayana had been suffering from chronic kidney disease that was progressively worsening, causing symptoms including high blood pressure, weight loss, fluid buildup near her heart and blood in her urine. She required dialysis three times weekly.
"We wanted Shayana to be able to return to school and live a normal childhood," Jozef explained. "The outlook without a transplant wasn't positive, and we knew there could be a long wait for a kidney donor, which is why I decided to put myself forward."
The transformation since the transplant has been profound. "Every day is better now," Jozef shared. "She's drinking normally, back at school, seeing her friends and playing outside. She loves drawing, writing and dancing. She's been incredibly brave throughout this entire process."
Jozef's wife, Dagmara, added: "Shayana is very happy and says she loves Jozef so much."
The Medical Team's Perspective
Caroline Basarab-Horwath, Living Donor Coordinator at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, supported all three fathers through their donation journeys.
"It has been such a privilege to support these incredible dads through the donation process and their operations," she said. "The highlight for me was when they video-called their children the following day, and I got to witness the joy of seeing them smiling back at their dads looking so well."
The kidney remains the most commonly donated organ by living donors. A healthy individual can lead a completely normal life with just one functioning kidney, making it possible to donate the other to someone in need of a transplant.
If you would like to learn more about organ donation and living donation, please visit: https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/
