Double transplant is “best Christmas present ever”

Riley, 4, with mum Stacey, 22

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A young boy from Rochdale has had an extra special early Christmas present that none of his friends will have asked for this year – a combined liver and kidney transplant.

Riley Greenwood, 4, underwent major surgery on the 21 November, one month ago today (Tuesday 21 December 2010) where he had the double transplant with a full plasma exchange to rid him of an extremely rare disease.

The operation Riley had has only been carried out eight times in the world. He is the first person in the UK to have a transplant for this illness.

Riley suffered from Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome and was diagnosed with the illness in the summer of 2009.

Riley needed a double transplant because a gene in his liver was attacking his kidneys, so to just replace his kidneys would mean the gene would attack them again.

In August this year (2010) Riley’s mum, Stacey, 22, put Riley’s name on the transplant register. In early October the family were contacted about a potential match, unfortunately the surgery didn’t go ahead.

On 21 November, Stacey received a phone call in the early hours of the morning to say there was another potential match.

The family travelled to Birmingham Children’s Hospital and that evening Riley had his transplant.

After two and half weeks in hospital Riley returned to his home in Shawclough.

Although he is still in a recovery period and off school until February, Riley is full of life.

Stacey said: “He keeps asking if he can go running. It has only been four weeks, if it was anyone else they would still be in bed.”

It was a hard decision for Stacey to put Riley on the Transplant Register, she said: “At the time it was such a hard decision. I thought do I put him on the list for a major transplant or do I try something else. It was the right decision. Now he can get back to a normal life.”

Riley is currently taking 16 different medications but in time it should be reduced to three tablets and visits to the hospital every sixth months - this is in stark contrast to before the transplant when he was frequently visiting the hospital for dialysis.

Riley hasn’t had dialysis since 20 November.

Speaking about the transplant and the time at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Stacey said: “The team were brilliant. Everything seemed to be calm and smooth.

“It is amazing what they do. You don’t know how to thank the surgeons.

“They do it every day but to us it is just amazing.”

Stacey’s message to people considering whether or not they should be an organ donor is “go on the list”

She said: “Riley’s transplant came from a 19-year-old who put himself on the list. Look at what it does, he can eat what he wants, drink what he wants, he’s not tied to a machine and hospital appointments.”

Stacey has written a letter to the donor family, she said: “Their son gave my son a life. I would like to meet them one day.”

Stacey described the last few months as “stressful.”

She added: “It is worth it though. It is the best Christmas present ever.”

With just a few days until Christmas, Stacey said: “Father Christmas has been watching and he knows how brave Riley has been.”

Speaking about the transplant, Riley joked “Father Christmas wouldn’t be able to do that!”

The family are hoping for a relaxed Christmas now that Riley doesn’t have to go to hospital for dialysis, he will even be able to enjoy a full Christmas dinner, following a diet which consisted mainly of pasta, rice and bread.

Stacey is hoping to throw a huge party for Riley in February after the three month stage. The family are also hoping to go on holiday in the New Year – something they were unable to do previously.

Riley will appear on ITV1’s Children’s hospital at Christmas tonight at 8pm.