Husband thanks wife for the gift of life (From Gazette & Herald)

Husband thanks wife for the gift of life

A NORTON woman has given her husband the best gift ever the gift of life.

Susan Goodchild gave a kidney to husband Gordon in a groundbreaking operation at St James' Hospital, Leeds last week.

Not only is it unusual for husband and wife to be able to be donor and recipient in a transplant operation, but the operation was a first for the hospital.

Gordon Goodchild said: "It really is the nicest gift your wife could ever give you. We want to say a big thank-you to all the nursing and surgical staff at the Leeds Trust and everybody who has supported us over the past few weeks.

"This type of operation should open up more opportunities for people to become donors. It is much less painful and more comfortable for the donor and we hope this will encourage other people to come forward."

Gordon has been diabetic since he was 12 years old and relied on dialysis machines when his own kidneys failed.

In spite of being on the dialysis machine all night, Gordon has maintained a job he loves as a team leader at Rowntrees in York.

Gordon and Susan were the first couple in the north of England to take part in a laproscopic kidney transplant operation, or keyhole surgery as it is more commonly known.

Consultant surgeons were Giles Toogood and Adrian Joyce. It took four hours to remove Susan's live kidney.

Mr Toogood explained: "This type of surgery is much less painful for the donor and speeds up their recovery.

"Instead of the normal nine-inch incision through deep muscles, tiny holes are made in the donor's abdomen through which instruments are placed.

"A four to five cm cut is then made lower down the abdomen through which the kidney is removed.

"The operation is much less stressful and less dangerous and it can only encourage more donors to come forward."

"I wasn't too nervous to start with," said Susan. It didn't seem too bad because I didn't even think we would get through to the operation. I had 11 months of tests first.

"When it came to the day, then I was very nervous!"

All Susan has to show for her gift are four little puncture marks with two stitches and a hole as big as an index finger.

That's where the surgical camera went to see where to cut to remove the kidney.

"I was in hospital for just 34 hours and they said that was a long time. I am still very tired and stiff, but they tell me that is to be expected. Every day I am a bit better. I sleep a lot but I'm coming round slowly."

Susan added: "People said I was brave, but I don't feel it. It's a real mixture of feelings really. I didn't give it a second thought. I just got on with it."

Susan will be off work for a month yet and Gordon has to wait for nearly three.

"He can't wait to get back to work. That's one of the things I love about him. He never let it get him down."

Gordon's courage inspired his workmates at Rowntrees to raise £1,000 for the York District Hospital renal unit.

Updated: 10:23 Friday, February 02, 2001