Transplants in 20 years Linzi living her best life
her school work and impressed everyone with her fighting spirit.
But in 2014 Linzi developed norovirus, which had a huge impact on her already weak kidneys.
It was a blow medics could not ignore as Linzi’s kidneys were only operating at 42% due to the treatment she had received as a baby.
Linzi said: “I was put back on the NHS Organ Donor Register and it took a few years for everything to get sorted.
“Again, they tested members of my family to see if there was anyone who might match.”
In a bizarre twist of fate, Linda Taylor, the mum-in-law of one of Linzi’s sisters also agreed to be tested – and turned out to be an ideal match.
On September 21, 2017, Linzi underwent her third transplant, again at the Freeman Hospital.
It is at this time she had met best friend Kevin Rudkin, who helped her pull through.
The pair are now in their final year of their Fine Art pro- gramme at the University of Sunderland and will graduate in the summer.
For the past few years, Kevin has always been there for Linzi, supporting her, keeping her spirits up and assisting when she needed a wheelchair to get about.
And it is for that reason Linzi has nominated him for the university’s Rate Your Mate award to thank him for his support.
The awards aim to shine a light on hard-working students who go above and beyond in their studies, life and work while at the university.
And that’s exactly what Kevin, 20, has done for Linzi, proving a lifeline as she juggled recovering from surgery with university work.
Linzi said: “When I first met Kevin we just clicked and, for some reason, he took it upon himself to help me.
“He would carry my bags, get me my lunch, when I missed lectures he would bring me up to speed.
“After the kidney transplant, I had a lot of steroids and this affected my legs and my ability to walk, so Kevin’s always been there to help me get about.”
Kevin, from Hendon in Sunderland, says Linzi is a real inspiration.
He added: “Even just after the surgery, she was so active.
“I knew she was poorly but she never complained and she never let it get her down.”
The friends are now considering undertaking an MA in Fine Art after graduating.
As part of her art degree, Linzi recreated a photograph of herself taken following her heart transplant surgery.
For the time being, Linzi remains on 21 different tablets each day – but she’s not going to let that get her down and she’s determined Kevin should have some acknowledgement for his kindness.
To register as a donor, visit: www.organdonation.nhs.uk/ contact/