Baby's kidneys used in transplant

The kidneys of a five-week-old baby have been successfully transplanted into a woman dying of renal failure, making the infant the youngest organ donor in Britain.

According to the The Sunday Times the baby had suffered heart failure after an infection.

But doctors were able to transplant the tiny kidneys into 22-year-old healthcare assistant Samira Kauser from Halifax, West Yorkshire.

Ms Kauser told the newspaper: "Words cannot express the gratitude I f eel to the par ents of this baby. M y l ife was standing still, now I c an live it.

"They have lost so much m uch more than I can ever comprehend. Their only solace is that someone else has been able to carry on with their life. It is a massive gift."

Due to a shortage in donors, surgeons are now using babies younger than two months old despite the possible trauma of asking parents if they will consider donation.

The seven hour operation took place at St James' University Hospital in Leeds and was carried out by transplant surgeon Niaz Ahmad.

Mr Ahmad told The Sunday Times that previously there had been a cultural thing among surgeons about not using donors so young, but now due to the organ shortage they were prepared to do it.

The paper reports that the kidneys, heart, liver and lungs all have the potential, even before birth, to be transplanted into an adult.