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Last summer, 23-year-old Joshua Andrew was in Australia when he received news that his dad, David, was experiencing kidney failure. David, 57, had developed chronic kidney disease due to chemotherapy he underwent a decade ago for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Without hesitation, Joshua traveled back to England to be his organ donor.
This wasn’t the first time he’d saved his father’s life—he’d previously donated bone marrow to help his dad during his cancer treatments. Their matching immune systems made Joshua’s kidney an ideal match, and the transplant took place last week at the Royal Free Hospital. Both are now recovering at home, with Joshua saying he’s grateful to the medical team for guiding him through the process.
Joshua’s mom, Lois, expressed deep pride in both her son and husband, saying her feelings are difficult to put into words. Alison Richardson, the live donor coordinator who helped them with their treatment, describes Joshua as remarkable, having saved his dad’s life twice at only 23 years old. Joshua hopes to get back to his friends in Australia as soon as he’s able.
Source: BBC
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