I gave my kidney to save a stranger

Helen has fully recovered from surgery.
12 April 2012

A woman today told how she decided to donate her kidney to a complete stranger to save a life.

Helen Marston, 55, had 19 months of tests before she was given the go-ahead to become a live donor.
"It seems a very obvious thing to do to me," said Mrs Marston, a pianist from Broadstairs in Kent. "I have two kidneys. I don't need two kidneys - I only need one. Yet there are many people desperately in need of a kidney. And I knew that I could make a difference - a very big difference - to someone else."

She had the kidney removed at Guy's Hospital this summer. The organ was immediately transferred to another hospital, where its recipient was waiting. Mrs Marston will never know the identity of the person she helped.

Interviewed before the operation for a BBC documentary, she said: "I don't want to know who gets my kidney because I worry they may feel beholden to me, and may feel that they somehow have to return the favour. "On reflection, anyone who needs it should be entitled to have it based on their need and nothing else."

Mrs Marston, who is only the 67th altruistic donor in Britain - someone who gives an organ to help a stranger - said today: "I'm so pleased I did it. I feel at least I've given that person my kidney. If I do nothing else in my life at least I've done that bit right."

The first kidney transplant took place in America in 1954. Back then the surgery was only possible between identical twins. Soon, better anti-rejection drugs allowed strangers to donate and receive organs.

However, for years the law prevented people giving up their organs while they were still alive. The practice was only legalised five years ago. Mrs Marston added: "I just felt so
compelled to do it. The funny thing is I felt so much healthier after I gave the kidney away than I did before. "You definitely get something back. I'm so happy I made a difference to someone's life."

Helen Marston's story will be shown in full on Inside Out on BBC1 tonight at 7.30pm.

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