Three-year-old girl celebrates World Kidney Day after receiving life-saving transplant from her dad

A three-year-old girl who spent her whole life on dialysis after being born with severe kidney problems, has been given the gift of life after receiving a transplant from her dad.

Little River Granger spent the first three years of her life unable to pass urine and needing dialysis 12 hours a day, while she grew big enough to receive the life-saving organ transplant.

Now the youngster is celebrating World Kidney Day with her dad Ryan, who described how saving his little girl’s life has left him feeling ‘on top of the world’.

River was born at University Hospital Southampton in October 2018 with failing kidneys, underdeveloped lungs and a hole in her heart.

She spent the first five months of her life in Southampton Children’s Hospital undergoing numerous treatments to help her grow stronger.

Mum Josie, 26, and dad Ryan, 24, who live in Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire, had been told the devastating news at an ante-natal scan that it was highly likely their child would be born with severe kidney problems.

Josie said “We were heartbroken. Everyone only hopes for a healthy baby but there wasn’t a doubt in my mind that we were going to give her a chance to be a happy little girl. Something inside me told me that everything would be ok”

River, who was born weighing 5lb 12, was placed on dialysis within 24 hours of being born. She was only able to go home when she reached five months old – and when her mum and dad had received intensive training to operate the dialysis machine for 12 hours a day.

Josie said “It was really scary doing to dialysis at first and I never thought we would be able to do it.

“We would have to start the process at 5pm every evening and River would be hooked up from 6pm for 12 hours. It was three years of restless sleep and restrictions on our days, but we did get used to it.”

Dr Shuman Haq, consultant paediatric nephrologist at Southampton Children’s Hospital, said “Putting a baby on dialysis at such a young age and for such a long period of time isn’t very common, even in a large regional paediatric nephrology unit like ours. River also hadn’t passed urine from birth until she recently got her kidney transplant. It’s wonderful to see her now doing so well.”

The nephrology unit at Southampton Children’s Hospital is a regional centre that covers a catchment area of 4.3million, caring for children with all types of kidney disease. Every year approximately 20 young patients receive dialysis at the unit, while youngsters preparing for or recovering from transplant surgery which is carried out at Evelina Hospital London.

Dr Haq added: “Josie and Ryan coped with a lot. To dialyse from birth and for such a long period of time is a huge amount of effort. Often, we see parental burnout at this stage as it really can be exhausting, but they coped brilliantly.”

At two years old, when River had reached the ideal 10kg size for a transplant, both Josie and Ryan were tested for kidney compatibility. Luckily both parents came back as a match and it was decided that dad, Ryan, was to be the donor.

However, the transplant was then delayed by the Covid pandemic until September 14, 2021.

Speaking about the day of the operation, Josie, who used to work for Vauxhall but now cares for River, said: “That was one of the best but worst days of my life. It was the best because River was finally being given a chance, but the worst as my whole world was in the operating theatres at the same time.”

Dad Ryan, who works in construction at South Western Group Ltd, said: “I was really nervous when it came to the operation. I was terrified going down to surgery and all I kept thinking about was wanting to be with River.

The transplant operation was a success and after spending time recovering, both River and Ryan were ready to go home. The family have also recently welcomed a new addition – baby boy Grayson who was born in October 2020.

Josie said: “River is a completely different child now. We never realised before the transplant how lethargic she was, but she now has so much energy and is such a bubbly and happy little girl who is loving life.

“Without Dr Haq, his team and all those who cared for River and Ryan at Evelina Hospital we wouldn’t have our little girl.

“I owe them her life and my life. They are just amazing at everything they do, and we see them more as family than our doctors. No words can express our gratitude.”

With the average transplanted kidney expected to last 20 years, River will need another transplant in the future and Josie is already prepared for that day.

She said: “Like Ryan, I won’t even think twice. We are already a match and to continue to give River life would be an honour. For now, though, we’re going to enjoy this new lease of life that we all have.”