Brave father donates kidney to save his three-year-old daughter’s life after she suffers stroke

A BRAVE dad has given his daughter the ultimate gift - by donating a kidney to save her life.

Lee Chester, 37, didn’t think twice when it came to making sure little Esme, three, could have a healthy childhood.

After suffering kidney failure, the toddler was forced to spend 14 months on dialysis - 12 hours a day, seven days a week.

So when tests showed Lee could help his caring, funny and strong-willed daughter live a normal life, he jumped at the chance.

The operation took place on Thursday morning and dad and daughter are now recovering well - with mum Rachel Mulhearn, 27, dividing her time to visit both of them at the Manchester Royal Infirmary and Manchester Children’s Hospital.

Speaking from his hospital bed, Lee, an account manager for Canon UK, said: “We are both doing really well. I’m so glad it’s gone well for Esme. She’s eating mashed potato in bed.

“I’m quite sore so I’ll have to milk it at home for a bit. It really does show the importance of opting in for organ donation. It really does save lives.

On donating his own kidney, he added: ”This is something that any parent would do, you just say yes, it’s in the terms.

“A couple of weeks before, the size of the whole thing did start to take hold and then it happens, you come round, and you’re punch drunk, telling the hospital staff jokes because you’re on so much morphine.”

Doctors have not been able to diagnose what caused Esme’s kidneys to suddenly fail in June last year or why she suffered a potentially-deadly stroke on Christmas Eve morning.

But the family believe that Esme, will be a stronger person for all she has had to face.

Lee added; “She’s so strong-willed, that’s part of what’s she been through.

“She knows her own mind, she’s very funny, caring and she says she loves us all the time. But she also has a strength from all this.”

He added: “She’s spent so long on the renal ward she struts around like she owns it, bossing all the staff around.”

It’s been a long road for the family since Esme was diagnosed with end stage kidney failure last June in a routine blood test.

At the time, she was suffering only with a cough so it was a complete shock to her mum and dad.

But despite daily dialysis, Esme kept her positive energy.

Lee said: “Things changed overnight. Her kidney failure was end stage - the worst it could get.

“We were both tested and although Rachel was a match, I was a better match. I said yes immediately.”

They were gearing up for a dream holiday to Florida for Esme when she suffered a stroke in December and was in intensive care for six weeks.

She was in hospital until mid-March and had to learn to walk and eat again, spending her third birthday on the renal ward and delaying the transplant.

But the surgery was finally able to go ahead this month.

Lee, says Rachel, who gave up her job as a national account manager for a food firm to care for Esme, has been ‘their rock’,

And now the operation is over, the couple hope Esme will be able to put her health problems behind her and take up her pre-school place at Tyldesley Primary in September.

There will be more medical appointments ahead, and tests to check her body has accepted the kidney but Esme’s future looks healthy and bright.

For Lee, the lesson is clear - he wants everyone to get on the organ donation register.

He said: “Everyone should sign up for it. It takes two minutes and it can change people’s lives forever.

“I would hope that if my kidney didn’t fit Esme they would be able to source another, and that means signing up.”

Lee, who also has a 12-year-old daughter called Georgia, praised the staff on Ward 77, the renal unit, who have cared for Esme.

Esme’s mum Rachel Mulhearn said on Facebook: “My beautiful family recovering after Daddy donated his kidney to our very brave little girl Esme who has faced far too much for any person let alone a child.

“Here’s to the future thanks to the best daddy in the world. He has given our daughter more than a gift, a chance at a better, healthier life and we will teach her to realise anything really is possible. They are doing really well, and everything looks to be working wonderfully. Donation changes lives - sign up today!”

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