A FAMILY has expressed their gratitude to the doctors, nurses and organ donor who gave their teenage daughter the ‘gift of life’.

Risa Romy, from Dorchester, is recovering well six months after receiving a kidney transplant.

The 15-year-old was diagnosed with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome in 2012.

This rare renal condition meant Risa had to have her kidney removed. She was put on dialysis until a suitable donor could be found.

Thankfully, a one was found and an operation took place exactly one year after Risa's dialysis treatment started.

Both of her parents were unable to donate their kidneys due to medical reasons. Risa’s mother, Sue, said she and her husband, Romy, both felt helpless at the time.

She said: “At first Risa started having dialysis three times a week in Southampton but she was missing a lot of school as we had to go to Southampton and back.

“They decided to train us to dialysis at home. We knew that it was going to be a long wait as being Asian, it can be more difficult to get a match.”

Both Sue and Romy went to Great Ormond Street Hospital to do dialysis training for a month.

Sue said: “We started home haemodialysis for Risa and had excellent support from Southampton, Dorset County Hospital’s Kingfisher Ward, and Great Ormond Street Hospital.

“This meant that Risa could continue to go to school regularly and have dialysis after school hours.”

Sue, who works as a nurse at Dorset County Hospital, said the family backed the Echo’s campaign to keep the Kingfisher Ward open.

She said: “If we didn’t have the Kingfisher Ward, we’d have to go to Southampton and I wouldn’t have been able to work. Being here, I could see her and then go to work.”

Risa started having dialysis in January 2014. Whilst she received this treatment, Sibby Thomas, a social worker from Sunderland, offered to donate his kidney.

After the relevant tests were completed, Risa had a successful kidney transplant in January.

Sue said: “On her 15th birthday, which is January 20, Sibby said to Risa, ‘This is my birthday gift to you.’ What a gift it was – a gift of life.”

Risa, a pupil at The Thomas Hardye School, said she was now looking forward to catching up at school.

She said: “I have a new life. I don’t miss any school now and I’ve managed to catch up with most of my school work. Next year is really important as I have my GCSEs.

“I can’t just say thanks because it is not going to be enough.”

Each member of the Romy family is now on the organ donor register. Both Sue and Romy are encouraging as many people as possible to sign up.

She said: “We didn’t expect it to happen to us. It could happen to anybody.

“If someone is one on the organ donor list, they can save up to nine lives.

“You don’t have to be a live donor. You can do it when you have passed away. It’s just a gift of life you can give.”

For more information about organ donation, please visit organdonation.nhs.uk