Millie was 26 when her Dad donated his kidney to her, but shortly after Millie had her daughter, Rosie, the kidney began to fail. In July 2021 Millie began dialysis while she desperately waited for a kidney. Zoe hadn't seen Millie for a few months but bumped into her at a Christening. After chatting and realising Millie was extremely unwell and in need of a new kidney, Zoe offered to give her one of hers! That was back in April this year. Fast forward to last month, after many tests and hospital appointments, Zoe finally learned she was a match and the transplant could go ahead. On January 2nd Zoe will be going into hospital for the operation to give her kidney to Millie! 

At the moment Millie has no working kidneys. The only time she has kidney function is when she is dialysing. Millie goes to the hospital 3 times a week for this and is currently on a liquid allowance of 1 litre a day because her kidneys can no longer get rid of any fluid. This is extremely difficult to do. Millie also has a very limited diet because the dialysis can only remove a certain amount of toxins. Having had a transplant before Millie knows just how incredible she will feel as soon as the operation is done. Millie looks forward to having her freedom back and not being restricted, she will be able to collect her daughter from nursery for the first time.  For the first time in a year and half Millie's family have been able to talk about plans for the future that don’t involve dialysing 3 times a week. Zoe's kidney will hopefully give her up to 30 years of leading a normal and happy life once again.

It is such an incredible thing that Zoe is doing for her friend - she really is one in a million. Zoe is such an integral part of Team Akasha and loved by us and so many of our members. We wanted to shout about this amazing lady, but also raise some money for Addenbrookes Kidney Patients Association. Millie's transplant will take place at Addenbrookes and this charity works to improve the quality of life for the kidney patients of Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge and her satellite dialysis units.