Sheeba, a representative of NHS Blood and Transplant
Sheeba, from Corby, went into kidney failure due to a genetic condition which claimed her sister’s life, leaving her young children without a mother. Sheeba faced several operations before having a combined kidney and liver transplant.
Sheeba said; “I had a condition called Hyperoxaluria which is a genetic condition passed on from a faulty gene from both parents. The kidneys shut down due to huge deposits of oxalate stones which caused my kidneys to fail. The only way to rectify the issue is to have a combined transplant of liver and kidney. Before the transplant I had to have several operations due to huge stones in my kidney, but transplant gave me a second chance in life and I thank my donor for that chance.”
Sheeba is now making the most of her life – she is married, holds down two jobs as a neighbourhood warden and youth worker and finds time for various sports with the hope of going to the Transplant Games. She also volunteers at her church and is learning sign language.