Hartlepool youngster celebrates second anniversary of new kidney she calls George
A Hartlepool youngster is loving life two years on from receiving a life-changing kidney transplant she calls “George”.
Poppy Lancaster, aged seven, had lived with kidney disease from 18 months which saw her needing dialysis six nights a week.
She received a first transplant on New Year’s Day in 2021 although her body rejected it almost immediately, leading to her spending around 18 months on the donor waiting list.
Thankfully, another match was found with Poppy having her second transplant on May 4, 2023, at The Great North Children’s Hospital at the RVI, in Newcastle.
For reasons no-one can work out, she decided to call her new kidney George.
This weekend, her family, including parents Gavin and Becky Lancaster celebrated the anniversary with a party.
Looking back, dad Gavin, 45, a children’s entertainer, said: "We were quite shocked to get a second one so soon. We thought she would be waiting another few years.
“But we were blessed with ‘George’.”
He added: “She’s doing very well. She has grown an awful lot and has nearly caught up to her twin sister Violet which is great from where she was two years ago.”
Mum Becky, 42, said: “She has a lot more energy now. Contact sports are no go, but other than that she keeps up with Violet.”
There have been some health setbacks with Poppy contracting pneumonia at Christmas in 2023 and being admitted to hospital with a chest infection in February last year.
She is also on numerous medication. But Poppy’s progress has been so good that her hospital check-ups have been reduced from three times a week to just once every three months.
At the weekend they marked the anniversary with a trip to the family’s caravan in Crimdon and a party when Poppy blew out the candles on a dinosaur cake she asked for.
Gavin added: “She’s been saying ‘It’s George’s birthday’. All she wanted to do was blow the candles out and have decorations.”
And Poppy is looking forward to taking part in the British Transplant Games in Oxford in July when hundreds of fellow transplant recipients share the gift of life.
She took part in the 40-year-old event for the first time last year when she came home with nine medals.