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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Jean Ward

Lanarkshire sisters mark 40th anniversary of kidney transplant with 'Say it With Flowers' award

Mum-of three Denise Boyd has been nominated for this week's 'Say it With Flowers' award by her loving sister Lorraine Campbell.

And as it is with many of our recipients, Denise's nominations is for going the extra mile - but in this case, it's the extra mile and then some.

Lorraine wanted to recognise Denise's selflessness and love for her family to mark the 40th anniversary of her life-saving gift, when she donated her kidney to save her sister's life.

It's been 40 years since the former Our Lady’s High pupil, 18 at the time, made the ultimate sacrifice for a then 21-year-old Lorraine.

Lorraine told Lanarkshire Live : “It's simple - she saved my life and that of my three sons and four grandkids.

“It’s just not a life on dialysis, you have no energy. But it was a huge thing for Denise.

“The day that they sent for her, I was on dialysis and they told us she was a 99 per cent match.

"She burst into the room to tell me, she was so excited to help."

Denise had wanted to help her sister when she was just 16, but she was too young.

When she was finally able to help, the major operation in March 9, 1982 took around 13 hours and saw doctors cut right round Denise's rib cage, before removing her left kidney which was implanted on the right side of Lorraine's body.

Former St Aidan’s High pupil, Lorraine, added: "It was quite traumatic for an 18-year-old."

The following July, Lorraine and her now husband Colin were married in St Thomas’s Church - they will be 39 years married this year.

The pair live in Cambusnethan and have three sons - Gary, Jamie and Ryan - and four grandchildren, Ava, Luca, Orla and Leo.

And like their love, Denise's gift has stood more than the test of time. Indeed, it has surpassed doctors' expectations, with her selflessness and the success of the operation giving her sister a life she may not have had.

Sixty-two-year-old Lorraine told us: "I have been very fortunate.

"Originally the doctors told me it would last for about 10 years. It changed my life and I was able to go to keep fit.

"I was a dancer before, but then my health deteriorated. Now I’ve got a beautiful family, four grandkids and I'm so thankful.”

Denise, now lives in Glasgow with her husband Andy and children Scott, Easton and Cameron.

She too has grandchildren, Eilidh, Alice and Lucas

And to celebrate the momentous milestone, the devoted sisters are planning a holiday to Tenerife with a group of their friends next month.

And when Lorraine told us about her extraordinary sister, we were thrilled to be able to help out, surprising her with this stunning floral display, courtesy of our friends at Pixies Petals in Newmains.

A delighted Denise told us: “Thank you so much to Lorraine and the Wishaw Press for nominating me, I really appreciate the flowers.

“It was a total shock to be nominated, but it was lovely. They have pride of place on my table.

"It’s quite amazing that it’s almost 40 years. I can’t believe that it is still working.

“I went into the Western Infirmary in Glasgow in February 1982 to get tests done.

“When doctors told me my kidney was a 99 per cent match, I rushed in and said ‘it’s a match’. I was crying and Lorraine was crying. It was really special.

“The consultant said that when he had taken it out it was working right away, which is incredibly rare.

"Family donors are a better match.

“It’s such a big achievement and it’s quite incredible that it’s 40 years. I had never had major surgery before and I was quite ill after it, but I bounced back quite quickly.

“Lorraine is amazing; she has a great outlook on life.

“We are here celebrating after 40 years, it’s incredible and makes it all worthwhile.”

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