Full story: ‘Wee miracle’ Joe needs dual transplants

A Ballymena mum-of-three whose youngest son needs a kidney and liver transplant is urging local people to help save lives by registering as an organ donor.
Sarah Lamont with her son Joe. INBT10-216ACSarah Lamont with her son Joe. INBT10-216AC
Sarah Lamont with her son Joe. INBT10-216AC

Sarah Lamont, whose 17-month-old son, Joe, was born with Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease (ARPKD) will fly out with him to Birmingham next month for an assessment which, she hopes, will place him on the list for the organs he so desperately needs.

The potentially fatal condition causes cysts to appear in the tubes that produce and transport urine. This leads to scarring and eventually the healthy tissue of the affected organs will be destroyed and can lead to kidney and liver failure.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Joe was born in the Royal Victoria Hospital with kidney failure. He then suffered a brain haemorrhage aged just two weeks and a heart stoppage a couple of weeks later, adding further to his slim chance of survival.

Placed on a ventilator from birth, he had to be flown to a Manchester hospital at six weeks of age to have one kidney removed but the other could not be saved and was removed a fortnight later.

Sarah said: “Joe’s kidneys were huge with the result that they impacted on other organs including his lungs which have failed to develop properly.

“The kidneys of an adult male, for example, weigh about 300 grams, Joe’s were 2,000 grams when he was six weeks old. Of the 10 pounds he weighed, his kidneys weighed four,” she said.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

After his kidneys were removed Joe was able to come off ventilation and after six more months of care back in the Royal was sufficiently stabilised to be allowed home for short stays and then for good last July.

“Joe’s doctor at the Royal, Dr Karl McKeever and his Renal Nurse, Hazel Gibson, call him ‘a wee miracle’ and Dr. McKeever believes he could be the worst surviving case of ARPKD in the world,” said Sarah.

“There are always complications because Joe is always very fragile - the first time I brought him home, he took a seizure and just a month ago he developed bronchialitis and spent two weeks back in the Royal.”

Having been diagnosed last August with the serious liver disease Congenital Heptatic Fibrosis, Joe now needs a rare dual transplant, requiring both organs to come from the same donor.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“He’s one of the youngest looking for a double transplant. He’s had it hard, he is a very brave wee boy,” said Sarah who is also mum to Max (nine) and Eve (seven).

She says they are a great source of support and love for Joe who requires constant care, including six drip feeds and 12 hours of dialysis each day, from Sarah who admits she gets little respite.

“I always believe God is on Joe’s side,” she says.

“I was told at birth that he probably wouldn’t live and at one stage started making funeral arrangements. I am very, very lucky to have him and he is such a good wee boy for all that he puts up with.”

Sarah is hopeful that God will be on Joe’s side again next month when he is assessed in Birmingham.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Having been on the organ donor register herself from a young age, she would urge others to consider signing up.

“One person can save up to nine lives by being an organ donor. I would encourage people to think about filling in a donor card, to have a chat with their family about what they want so that they could maybe one day save a life like Joe’s”.