Kidney swap families to meet
Updated on 05 December 2007
Two families involved in a "kidney swap" will soon meet for the first time since their simultaneous operations.
Margaret Wearn, 49, from Portsmouth, and 69-year-old Donald Planner, from St Austell, Cornwall, suffered kidney failure and were dependent on renal dialysis sessions. But none of the kidneys offered by family members matched.
Thanks to legislation introduced by the Human Tissue Authority in September last year, Mrs Wearn's 56-year-old husband, Roger, donated a kidney to Mr Planner. And Mr Planner's 43-year-old daughter, mother-of-two Suzanne Wills, donated a kidney to Mrs Wearn.
Until a few days ago the families were unaware of each other's identities, but agreed to be named to show how a change in legislation allowed such operations to go ahead.
Until September last year living donors were allowed to give kidneys only to those who were genetically or emotionally related, for example husband to wife.
Mr Planner said: "I have not spoken to Mr and Mrs Wearn at all, but I think we will have a lot to say to each other when we meet in London just before New Year."
He said the operation had given him "a new lease of life" and he and his daughter were recovering well.
Mrs Wearn, a cafe supervisor at South Downs College, Waterlooville, said she was looking forward to meeting Mr Planner and his daughter.
The simultaneous kidney swap operations took place on October 23.
Both families were matched after signing up to the NHS paired donation programme - open to couples, family members or even friends - where one of the pair needs a kidney and the other will donate one.
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