Birmingham girl receives life-saving kidney from granddad

A three-year-old girl who was told she might not live past the age of five has received a life-saving kidney transplant from her 64-year-old grandfather. 

Penny Powell, from Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, was expected to survive just hours after she was born 10 weeks premature and weighing just 1lb 5oz in December 2013.

However, she managed to defy doctors’ expectations despite being born with abnormal kidneys, two holes in her heart and chronic lung disease.

Her parents were told last June that she needed a kidney transplant and after the whole family was tested, it was discovered that only her grandfather John was a match.

Three-year-old Penny Powell, from Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, (pictured with grandfather John and his wife Vicky) has received a life-saving kidney transplant from her 64-year-old grandfather John 

John, who shares Penny’s rare rhesus negative blood type, instantly agreed to go under the knife and had his kidney taken out at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham at the end of June.

Both he and granddaughter Penny – who has make 11 visits to the intensive care unit at Birmingham Children’s Hospital since she was born – have now recovered fully from their operations.

John, who works a market trader, said: ‘As soon as we knew that Penny would need a transplant, we all went to get tested.

‘She’s had such a difficult life to date, and we would all be willing to do whatever we could to save her.

Penny's parents were told last June that she needed a kidney transplant and after the whole family was tested, it was discovered that only her grandfather John was a match. The pair are pictured together at Birmingham Children's Hospital 

Penny’s parents were told last June that she needed a kidney transplant and after the whole family was tested, it was discovered that only her grandfather John was a match. The pair are pictured together at Birmingham Children’s Hospital 

‘It transpired that only I could donate, because I was the only one to share a blood type with her. It was a no-brainer, of course.’

The grandfather-of-four said that he told Penny’s father Stuart that he would do anything he could to help his granddaughter after she was born.   

‘I told him that if it were a question of selling my home and all of my possessions to help her out, I would do it,’ he said. 

‘I’ve never questioned my decision. For me, it’s the ultimate gift that a dad can give to his son – to help save his child for him.’

Penny (pictured after the operation) has made an incredible recovery since leaving hospital 

Penny (pictured after the operation) has made an incredible recovery since leaving hospital 

The toddler (pictured shortly after she was born) was expected to survive just hours after she was born 10 weeks premature and weighing just 1lb 5oz in December 2013

The toddler (pictured shortly after she was born) was expected to survive just hours after she was born 10 weeks premature and weighing just 1lb 5oz in December 2013

However, she managed to defy doctors' expectations

She is now expected to lead a normal life following the kidney transplant

However, she managed to defy doctors’ expectations and is now expected to lead a normal life following the kidney transplant 

Penny's father Stuart (pictured together) said he is 'never going to be able to thank my dad enough' for what he's done 

Penny’s father Stuart (pictured together) said he is ‘never going to be able to thank my dad enough’ for what he’s done 

Describing his granddaughter, John continued: ‘Penny is the most beautiful child. She was dealt a bad hand at birth, but she is the most bubbly and playful child you could ever wish to meet. I really wanted her to be well.’

He said that he had been nervous about the operation, but explained that it had been ‘very straightforward in the end’.   

‘It was literally a case of taking my kidney out at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, then taking it down to Birmingham Children’s Hospital,’ he said. 

‘It was all done within a day, and within two days I was back on my feet again and out of the hospital, and Penny was back out within four days. 

John said he was surprised that he was able to donate a kidney despite being in his mid 60s 

John said he was surprised that he was able to donate a kidney despite being in his mid 60s 

In fact, the age gap between him and his granddaughter is believed to be one of the largest between a donor and a recipient in the UK

Penny has made an incredible recovery following the kidney transplant

In fact, the age gap between him and his granddaughter is believed to be one of the largest between a donor and a recipient in the UK 

‘Since the operation, I’ve felt fine. I’m probably running on about an eight out of ten at the moment, but that’s not a problem.

‘For me, it’s not a particularly amazing gesture. Any granddad would do it, if they could.’

John said he was surprised that he was able to donate a kidney despite being in his mid 60s. 

In fact, the age gap between him and his granddaughter is believed to be one of the largest between a donor and a recipient in the UK. 

‘The most amazing thing in my view is the fact that I’ve been able to do it so late on in my life,’ he said. 

Penny, who has made 11 visits to the intensive care unit at Birmingham Children's Hospital since she was born, looks set to spend her first birthday at home this December 

Penny, who has made 11 visits to the intensive care unit at Birmingham Children’s Hospital since she was born, looks set to spend her first birthday at home this December 

Her father Stuart says that within a day of her operation, she was 'more energetic, bright and bubbly than I've ever seen her' 

Her father Stuart says that within a day of her operation, she was ‘more energetic, bright and bubbly than I’ve ever seen her’ 

‘That’s a good message to send out to other people – that it’s never too late to help others.

‘You have two good working kidneys, one of which you don’t need, so if you can it’s more than a worthwhile thing to do.

‘It’s incredible that someone of my age can donate to someone so young, but it just shows you what the doctors can do these days. The fact that a part of me is going to live on inside her after I’ve gone is amazing.’

Penny’s father Stuart added: ‘I’m never going to be able to thank my dad enough. For as long as I live, there’s nothing that I could ever do to repay him.

Penny was born with abnormal kidneys and two holes in her heart

She was also born with chronic lung disease

Penny was born with abnormal kidneys, two holes in her heart and chronic lung disease 

However, Penny has continued to defy the expectations of doctors since she was born 

However, Penny has continued to defy the expectations of doctors since she was born 

‘Penny has been my pride and joy from the moment she first stepped into this world.

‘She was born by emergency caesarean section, and we were told that her life expectancy was just hours.

‘But it kept going up and up, and the doctors – who had to rip up their medical books to find a solution – were able to keep her going. It’s been operation after operation.

‘As soon as he knew that he could donate, my dad stepped up. Because of what he’s done, my one daughter can live an ordinary life.

‘Within a day of the operation, she was more energetic, bright and bubbly than I’ve ever seen her. He quite literally put the smile on her face.’ 

He added: ‘She’s going to have to go in to hospital every six months to have a pulmonary vein pumped up, but aside from that she will an ordinary life.

‘It’s her birthday on December 8, and it looks as though it’s going to be the first one that she’ll be able to celebrate at home.

‘We’re already planning what to get her, but I think my dad is owed more than his fair share of gifts too.’

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