Facebook stranger donates kidney and her kindness saves a life

A KINDHEARTED mum-of-two donated a kidney to a stranger after she read a desperate plea on Facebook.

Louise Drewery saw the online message from Stacey Hewitt’s dad, who had made a heartfelt appeal for a donor to help his sick daughter.

The transplant was successful and is believed to be the first ever live organ donation in Britain to have been instigated through social media.

Louise and Stacey now share a lifelong bond after the operation was carried out at the Institute of Transplantation at Freeman Hospital in Newcastle.

Stacey, mum to three-year-old Alfie, had chronic kidney disease and without a new kidney she would have become very sick and require a lifelong dialysis.

The 26-year-old, from Redcar, was constantly tired and could only walk short distances as her kidneys failed.

Her mum and dad weren’t suitable donors and,with an average waiting time of three years for a transplant,her family feared she couldn’t wait that long.

In desperation, dad Darren posted a message on Facebook asking if anyone was willing to donate a kidney to help his daughter.

“Within seconds, my inbox went mad,” he said.

One of those responding was Louise, from Scunthorpe. She said: “My husband Nigel and I were just sitting one night having a glass of wine and we went on Facebook,” she said. “When I saw the message I knew that if I could help, I would.”

After 13 months of tests, it was determined that Louise could donate a kidney to Stacey.

“People ask me if it’s for family or a friend, but they’re shocked when I say it’s for a total stranger,” Louise said. “But Alfie is only little and deserves to have his mum there growing up.”

The operation came closer, however, Louise began to worry about the huge sacrifice she was about to make.

“My biggest fear was not waking up and my kids being without a mum, when the reason I’m doing this is so another child isn’t living without a mum.”

Stacey’s grateful parents visited Louise before the operation, with Darren calling her “an absolute hero”.

The procedure was a success and Stacey could feel the benefits immediately.