Grace Battison, Liverpool

Louise Grace Battison, Age 13, Liverpool, Alder Hey Children's Kidney Transplant

Elaine Brewin's eldest daughter Amy Battison was diagnosed with end stage renal failure in March 2013. She was 15 years old, and it was a huge shock. She spent 11 months having dialysis 3 times a week at Alder Hey Children's Hospital, until Elaine donated her kidney to her in February 2014. Amy has achieved so much in the 10 years after her transplant.

Amy's little sister Grace Battison was unexpectedly diagnosed with end stage renal failure in February 2022. She has the same condition as Amy, but they didn't know. At 11 years old, Grace was admitted to Alder Hey Children's Hospital for 3 weeks, where she was prepared for dialysis at home. She spent 17 months having dialysis while she was waiting for a kidney. As a mum, Elaine was obviously devastated that she had been diagnosed, but she knew she was powerless to help this time as she had already shared her spare kidney with Amy.

Luckily, Elaine's husband Paul, stepdad to her girls, was determined to help and was tested to see if he was a match for Grace. Sadly, he was not, but Alder Hey spoke to them about the paired donor pool where Paul could effectively "swap" with another family to give Grace her new kidney. He agreed and on their very first run in the pool, they were matched in a 3-way swap.

The 3-way kidney swap took place all on the same day, on 15th September 2023. Grace received her new kidney at Manchester Children's Hospital from a remarkable altruistic donor, Paul's kidney went to someone in London, and their family member gave a kidney to someone who was on the waiting list for a deceased donor kidney.

Elaine and Paul are now both part of the onesie kidney club and couldn't be prouder! The family went to the British Transplant Games for the first time in 2024, with Elaine and Paul taking part in the donor run supporting Alder Hey Children's Hospital, and Grace representing the hospital in a few different events. Their three other children, Sam, Izzy and Eve, all came to cheer them on.