AN ASHFORD boy who desperately needed a kidney transplant in order to avoid going on dialysis was saved thanks to a groundbreaking medical procedure and the love of his mother.
Nine-year-old Nabeel Nanuck had been waiting on an organ donor list for more than two years when his parents, Bibi and Noor, were told they might be able to give him one of their kidneys.
A brand new and innovative transplant operation makes it possible for adults to donate organs to children who have a different blood type.
Previously the donor and the recipient had to have the same blood type for the transplant to work.
Nabeel was born with chronic renal failure, a condition which means dialysis is the only option if an organ donor cannot be found.
Mr Nanuck, 35, said: "When Nabeel went on the transplant list in 2008 we wanted to donate but because we are different blood groups we couldn't. You had to be compatible.
"The medical procedure changed quite recently this year which meant that we could donate.
"When we got the news that we could donate it was a big relief in terms of not having to wait any longer, otherwise he would have had to go on dialysis and he couldn't wait any longer.
"At the same time there was anxiety because it was a new procedure. It was the first time the hospital had done the procedure with this team."
Following a host of tests, Mrs Nanuck, also 35, was judged to be the best match for Nabeel and the successful transplant operation took place at the Evelina Children's Hospital in Central London earlier this year.
She said: "It was something new. When we knew we would be able to donate we were obviously excited and then we had a series of tests to do, but at least there was that action.
"[While he was] waiting on the transplant list, nothing was happening and we didn't want Nabeel to be on dialysis.
"I was relieved and happy to be able to donate a kidney to Nabeel," Mrs Nanuck added.
Just six days after the operation, Nabeel was able to return to some sort of normality and attend the hospital's school.
His mother spent a week in hospital before going home to carry on resting, and the family then welcomed Nabeel home for good two months later.
Mr Nanuck said: "Now we are enjoying a better quality of life, especially Nabeel.
"We go swimming on a Sunday and we wouldn't have been able to do that [if he had gone on dialysis]."
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