Family’s appeal as mum desperately awaits transplant
THE family of a South Wales mum in desperate need of a kidney donor have made an emotional plea for help and argued the transplant system is “deeply flawed”.
Claire Clarke, who turned 47 on July 21, is a patient at Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport where she is classed as an “inpatient”, meaning she lives under the care of the hospital.
Due to her needing a kidney transplant, Claire’s organs have severely deteriorated with her family highlighting the system has left her feeling “abandoned”.
The mum of three and grandmother had told close family she “would rather die on the operating table than sat at home with no hope” and sparked her family into appealing for help in addressing the issues around the transplant system where families and patients are “caught in a cycle of losing hope”.
Claire was told she was a “complex issue” and “unfit” to undergo surgery for a much needed kidney transplant to save her life.
As a result her other organs have worsened with doctors highlighting the mother will die.
Having been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in her mid 20s, it caused Claire a number of medical problems which have severely damaged her kidneys, including an infection which later led to sepsis.
For the past two years, Claire has spent her life “back and forth on the transplant list” in what the family have argued is an “endless cycle” that needs to be addressed as the family are concerned similar results are being mirrored across Wales.
“We have the upmost respect for the NHS and the care Claire has received over the years but there is a deeper issue here that needs to be addressed” said her sister Joanne Davies.
“We shared an appeal to help her find a kidney donor on social media and we believe we have done that, the problem is people in desperate need of transplants are being stripped of hope as they get taken on and off the list in an endless cycle. We want to give her a fighting chance” she added.
“My sister is in hospital as we want her to get treatment to live her life, what we are finding is that they are refusing to put her on the list as she is under care but that is the reason she is in there.
“We just want to fight for her – before long it may get to a case of being too late to help her, she is just totally stuck in a loop” said Joanne.
Joanne, Claire and the family have aimed to highlight the issues surrounding transplant lists to prevent other patients from feeling “abandoned and without hope” as they wait for the potentially life-saving treatment.
“Claire is in hospital and for the first time in a long time feels she has a fighting chance with the great people of Wales behind her rooting for her, she now has her spark back and is determined to carry on her fight,” added Joanne.
A spokesman for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board said: “We are very sorry that Ms Clarke’s family are unhappy with her treatment.
“It would be inappropriate to comment on the details of individual cases.
“However, we are keeping Ms Clarke and her family regularly updated on her care plan. We would like to reassure people that any decisions regarding our patients’ care are made in their best interests.”