AGONISING TRANSPLANT WAIT FOR WARRIOR LUCAS
Youngster’s lockdown struggle
A brave young man waiting for a kidney transplant has faced heartbreaking delays to treatment due to the pandemic.
Lucas Webster, 20, who is battling renal failure, needs an operation to make him eligible for the transplant.
The Glenburn man, who has autism, has overcame a number of obstacles since the start of the pandemic, and even beat Covid- 19, despite his worried mum Sandra fearing it could kill him.
He has been shielding at home for 11 months and now faces a lengthy wait for covid restrictions to ease to allow his remaining surgeries to take place.
Proud mum Sandra, 52, said: “He is not living just now, he is just surviving. “We were hoping he would have had all the treatment he needed by now to be on the transplant list, but, because of the pandemic, that hasn’t been able to happen.
“He is just waiting for his life to start now.
“It has been really hard on him and he has been quite down about it.
“But Lucas is a warrior and just keeps fighting.”
A young man who beat covid despite fears it would kill him is now “waiting for his life to start” as delays caused by the pandemic have halted life-changing treatment to get him a new kidney.
Lucas Webster, 20, has been undergoing gruelling dialysis three times a week since March last year and has so far had one of many surgeries which will make him eligible for the transplant list.
The Paisley man, who was born with renal failure and other health issues, has since beat Covid-19 which his worried mum Sandra, 52, feared would kill him.
The proud mum – who also battled coronavirus – has hailed her brave son as a “warrior” and says the family are hopeful he will make it on to the transplant list soon.
Sandra, who is still suffering the effects of covid, told the Express: “When Lucas had covid, I thought he would die from it.
“I was so worried but thankfully he sailed through it and he has now had his vaccine.
“I, unfortunately, have long covid, which I wouldn’t wish on anyone.
“But Lucas is a warrior. He’s been through so much and he just keeps fighting.
“Because of covid, his treatment has slowed down a bit.
“We were hoping he would have had all the treatment he needed by now to be on the transplant list but because of the pandemic that hasn’t been able to happen.
“He is just waiting for his life to start now. It has been really hard on him and he has been quite down about it.”
The Express previously told how Lucas, who has autism, had been placed on kidney dialysis last year as his kidney function had rapidly declined.
He was born with an abnormal chromosome and an extremely rare condition called TownesBrocks syndrome.
Medics say there are no other recorded cases in the world of a patient having both these genetic conditions.
He has spent most of his life
on medication to manage the renal failure, while also facing a number of other health issues.
His kidney function is currently just nine per cent and Sandra told how she was devastated to watch her son struggle due to his rapid decline in health.
He has since battled numerous painful infections and even overcame sepsis – which almost killed him.
Lucas, who lives in Glenburn, Paisley with Sandra and his younger brother Callum, 17, has been shielding at home since March last year.
He has only left the house to attend hospital appointments in the past 11 months.
Sandra added: “He is just existing at the minute.
“He talks about going back to college and eventually moving out. He wants to get on with his life and make friends, but just now he can’t do that.
“He has been home for such a long time and that has been really hard on him.”
While the family faces a difficult wait for Lucas’ surgeries to be scheduled again, Sandra has hailed hospital staff for their support.
“The staff at the hospital really have been amazing.
“They are doing the best they can and keeping things moving as quickly as they can for us.
“It is hard as, if it wasn’t for the pandemic, we would be closer to the transplant list, but we know they are doing all they can.”
The family are also hopeful the change in the law surrounding organ transplants could mean Lucas will get his transplant quicker.
As of March 26, organ donation will change to an optout system, which means adults who die in circumstances where they are able to donate will be considered as having agreed to be a donor unless they record a decision not to.
Sandra added: “It is a wonderful thing. At first, I wasn’t sure as I always felt that being given an organ should be a gift, but it will change a lot of people’s lives.
“It also takes the pressure away from families who have lost their loved ones as they know this is what they wanted.
“Young people like Lucas who are waiting to get a transplant could get it quicker because of this.
“That has given him a bit of hope.”
If it wasn’t for the pandemic, we would be closer to the transplant