Olly became the smallest transplant recipient in Northern Ireland at the age of three, when his grandmother, Michelle, donated a kidney. However, Etta is still waiting for her transplant and receives haemodialysis in Belfast four days a week.
No child should suffer
Olly and Etta’s mum, Dionne, says: “It is awful to see them suffer. They’ve missed countless milestones compared to other children their age. Olly’s transplant was made possible by research, and it’s important we keep funding projects to help children, like our Etta, who are still waiting.
“There are so many research questions yet to be answered that could improve lives pre- and post-transplant. I want Olly and Etta to lead happier lives, with transplants that last longer, anti-rejection medications with less side-effects, and the option to start families without worrying about their children inheriting this disease.
“Their condition is so rare it hasn’t even got a proper name. We just have a series of letters and numbers relating to the affected gene: TTC21B. They’re the only people who have it. And it means that nobody really knows anything about it. Even the specialists. Research gives us hope that there’ll be new options for treatment for Olly and Etta as they grow up, and for all the other families we’ve met along the way.”
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- Source: https://www.kidneyresearchuk.org/2024/11/11/send-olly-and-etta-a-wish-this-christmas/