‘Aunt’s kidney saved my life’: Family joy at teenager’s ‘second chance’

The 15-year-old – who was born with a horseshoe kidney, half of which was diseased – recently underwent a successful transplant after his aunt, Diane Moffat, 47, donated one of her kidneys.

Cameron, a third-year pupil at Lasswade High School, spent much of his young life visiting the Sick Kids hospital, where he received various treatments but was left feeling constantly tired.

Last year, doctors discovered that Cameron’s kidney was functioning at just ten per cent.

However, thanks to his kindhearted aunt, that has rocketed to 98 per cent since his operation at Yorkhill children’s hospital in Glasgow.

Cameron’s mum, Elaine, 50, had tried to donate her own kidney but, despite her blood being a perfect match, it was discovered that its function was not high enough to qualify for the procedure.

After that, Elaine’s sister, Diane, a dinner lady at Woodburn Primary School, selflessly put herself forward.

She said: “Elaine was devastated at not being able to help Cameron. I pondered on it for a couple of weeks, as I have my own family to think about.

“It was on the day of the royal wedding that I decided to do it – I wanted us to go to Cameron’s wedding.

“I don’t want Cameron or Elaine feeling that they owe me something for the rest of their lives. As far as I’m concerned, it’s done – finished.

“We’re already having a joke about it – I’ve warned him to wait until the vodka and Irn-Bru kicks in!”

She added: “If anything had happened to Cameron and I had never tried to help, I couldn’t have lived with myself.”

Mrs Sprott, who owns Sprott’s Newsagents in Bonnyrigg with husband Ian, said: “I would like to say thank you to Diane for what she has done – she’s given Cameron a second chance at life.”

Mother-of-two Ms Moffat, who lives in Dalkeith, underwent the operation at the Western in Glasgow on the same day as Cameron, who suffered chronic kidney failure around the age of ten.

Mrs Sprott said: “My sister had got taken in the morning to have her kidney removed and after Cameron got taken in to Yorkhill, I passed the doctor coming along the corridor with Diane’s kidney in a bag. It was very surreal.”

Cameron’s family have noticed a huge improvement in his health since the surgery.

“He’s absolutely fantastic,” Mrs Sprott said. “He’s gone from a grey colour to now looking so healthy – it’s like switching a light on.”

Cameron said: “I feel a lot better. I’m looking forward to going out with my friends.”

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