Tadley family's desperate appeal for kidney donor to save mum-of-five's life

“It’s the most amazing thing you could do – you’d literally be saving my mum’s life.”

Those were the words of one Tadley woman as her family launched a desperate appeal for a kidney donor to save her mum’s life.

Mother-of-five Stephanie Digance, 41, tested positive for Covid in the lead up to Christmas and, despite feeling better on the day, began to deteriorate between Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve, suffering spells of dizziness.

After calling 111 and undergoing blood tests, Ms Digance – who was diagnosed with kidney disease a few years ago – was then whisked to Basingstoke Hospital A&E in an ambulance.

She was then informed that she’d contracted an infection which, in conjunction with Covid, had made her really ill, leading her kidney function to fall to ‘three’.

She was then given the news she was in stage five kidney failure and was hooked up to a dialysis machine for 72 hours, and underwent courses of antibiotics, as well as being on oxygen, fluids and an IV drip.

After stabilising, Ms Digance – a learning support assistant at The Priory School in Pamber End – was able to return home, but now faces an urgent race for a kidney transplant.

Speaking to the Newbury Weekly News, Ms Digance’s daughter, Toni-Marie Kelly, said: “I know it’s so cliché but she’s the best mum in the world.

“For the last few years, there have been so many obstacles she’s had to face but she’s always put us kids first.

“Even in the pandemic, she was high risk but she was still going out doing shopping for old people.

“She is so selfless and puts everybody else first.”

Ms Kelly, 21, said family members and friends have tested to see if they’re a match, but so far no one has been found.

That means Ms Digance – who is in the ‘o’ blood group – is relying on a selfless organ donor to step forward.

She is also on the national transplant waiting list to receive a kidney from a deceased donor, but the wait could be years and Ms Digance’s situation is urgent.

Ms Kelly added: “It’s the most amazing thing you could do – you’re literally saving my mum’s life.

“Even if you’re not able to do it for my mum, doing it for anybody would be incredible and life-changing.”

Anyone who is interested in seeing if they could be a kidney donor for Ms Digance should contact Wessex Kidney Centre on pho-tr.portsmouthkidney@nhs.net and ask to be tested as a match for Stephanie Digance.