Eight-year-old Hannah Phoa had to undergo dialysis for up to 14 hours every day as well as be tube-fed not long after she was born due to a rare disorder. She had Denys-Dash syndrome, where scar tissue form throughout the tiny blood vessels in the kidneys that filters waste from blood. The condition is characterised by kidney failure, usually before the age of three.
“My kidneys weren’t working well before. My mum was generous and gave me one of her kidneys. I was so excited the day the dialysis machine at home was given back to the hospital. I didn’t
need dialysis any more!”
For her parents, Ms Leong Wei Yee and Mr Desmond Phoa, a kidney transplant for Hannah was always the goal. In fact, both were found to be suitable donors. After the couple weighed all the considerations, it was decided that Ms Leong would donate her kidney to Hannah. So, at the age of five, when Hannah gained enough weight for the surgery, the transplant was carried out in January 2021.
“It was an automatic decision. I wanted to give Hannah a better quality of life and be happy. It was a blessing to give her my kidney and a new lease of life,” said Ms Leong.
Both mother and daughter are doing well. Ms Leong and her husband are thankful that they are able to benefit from NKF’s Kidney Live Donor Support Fund, which helps defray the cost of post-transplant expenses like medical check-ups and medication.
