Sarah knew she would be the one to give her brother a lifesaving kidney

2020 the year all our worlds stopped spinning! For our family our world not only stopped spinning but was also turned upside down.

I am one of three children, a sister to my two big brothers. Our middle brother Sam was born with multiple health problems and we were all concerned what impact COVID-19 may have on him, such a scary time.

Then during our first lockdown my eldest brother Ben, only 34, became unwell with a headache. Stress? Must be? We, alongside the whole nation, were worried about Covid. Ben’s headache only got worse and over the coming week we learnt that Ben’s headache was much more concerning, he was in stage 5 kidney failure and very poorly. Ben started dialysis soon after.

From that very first phone call to tell me the life changing news, I knew I was to be the one to help my brother. I wanted more than anything to give Ben his life back. Tests started in June 2020 to see if I was to be a match and with a few pauses during the pandemic by January 2021 I was given the green light to donate to my brother.

Testing is a long rollercoaster ride but we had made it. 13th May soon flew round and it was time to pack our bags and head in for surgery. We were both incredibly nervous but we had each other. We had a smooth ride in theatre with Ben’s new kidney working quickly.

We are now four weeks post surgery. Ben has had some hiccups along the way with some short stays in hospital but we are now positive for the future ahead.

People say I’m brave, an amazing thing to do… but in my eyes my big brother is my true hero. A life changing year for him and not once have I heard him complain, what a trooper!

– Sarah Davis