Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Fiance not only gave me all his heart.. but donated a kidney too
Pair to tie knot after success of transplant
GETTING engaged to the man of her dreams was the happiest moment of Pamela Compston’s life.
But after fiance Ashley Pepper proposed, the bride-to-be had to stop herself from setting a date for the big day.
The 27-year-old had been diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease – an inherited disorder – when she was 16 and by August 2016, had been on the transplant list for two years without a call.
She faced having to give up her job as a radiographer at Belfast’s City Hospital due to the prospect of moving from dialysis at home to requiring hospital trips at least three times a week.
But in an extraordinary act of love, Ashley had secretly asked his GP about donating one of his kidneys to his future wife in a bid to save her life.
The couple have just celebrated one year since the successful operation and are looking forward to tying the knot in May.
Pamela, who lives in Portadown, Co Armagh, with Ashley, told the Mirror: “I was getting to the stage I was going to have to give up work. I felt my life was on hold.
“I couldn’t go ahead and get married, we had not set a date or bought a house, I didn’t want to plan anything because the future was so uncertain.”
But just months after he popped the question, Ashley, who met Pamela through a mutual friend while they were studying at the Ulster University in Jordanstown, set the ball rolling.
MATCH
Following tests and scans, it was revealed he was a suitable match and on February 8 last year the pair were admitted to the City Hospital for the operations that would change both their lives. Pamela said: “I had been diagnosed 10 years ago with very progressive polycystic kidney disease. I knew it was going to end up as a transplant but just didn’t know when.”
The pair went into hospital together and four days later Ashley, an engineer, was able to go home. His fiancee followed a day later. Pamela, who is originally from Armagh, said: “Overall Ashley has been fine, he was back to work in three months. I was off eight months and had a few stays back at the City but that is normal.
“It is just amazing. He did not have to do that, he is my hero. “We are getting married in May so it all worked out really well. The staff at the City are brilliant. “Organ donation is so important. Even in my family I would not have my dad, gran and uncle for so long without people donating.
“They received kidneys from deceased owners. I am the first live donor.”
It is just amazing. Ashley did not have to do that.. he is my hero PAMELA COMPSTON CO ARMAGH YESTERDAY