Lucas

Lucas was born with bilateral cystic dysplastic kidneys, in which both his kidneys were undersized, full of cysts and not functioning.

He spent his first 16 days fighting for his life in a neonatal intensive care unit, and had to have a naso-gastric feeding tube inserted at six months so he could eat and drink, but Lucas continued to defy the odds.

“We were told he wasn’t going to survive but Lucas fought hard, avoiding dialysis a few times when his kidney function declined,” his mum Kiera said.

On 20 January 2015, Lucas, then 2, received a pre-emptive life-saving kidney transplant from his grandmother, Grace. In fact he was the first kidney transplant performed at the Queensland Children’s Hospital.

As it was such a major operation, surgeons chose to leave Lucas’ damaged kidneys intact, and placed his grandmother’s kidney at the front right of his body. His grandmother’s kidney is expected to last about 15 years.

Lucas was fortunate to have the transplant before needing to go on dialysis, but he’s still had his fair share of procedures. In his short life, he’s had seven surgeries, more than 300 blood tests, several ultrasounds, a blood transfusion and been admitted to hospital more than 20 times.

“He still has his peg (feeding tube), as well as a port to help access his veins. And he’s on four medications to help his new kidney,” Kiera said.

“But the transplant has truly changed his life. He’s full of energy and is always on the go.”