THEY say there’s no greater bond than that of a mother and child.
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This couldn’t be truer than in the case of Angela and Matthew Tremble.
Born with renal failure, nine-year-old Matthew has undergone 28 major operations to get to where he is today.
Among that, a kidney transplant at 17-months-old. His donor? Mum.
A four-out-of-six match, Mrs Tremble went under the knife in 2007 to give her baby boy her left kidney, and a second chance at life.
In an interview with the Goulburn Post last week, she spoke of Matthew’s journey and the importance of organ donation.
“The journey started when he was first born, he just wasn’t right. I just knew in my heart there was something wrong with him,” she said.
“He had his first operation at five weeks old and then that continued for 28 operations that he has had up until today to keep him alive.”
Matthew’s condition is constantly monitored. Wake up calls at all hours of the night for water and a “cocktail” of medicine keeps him healthy while his immune system is suppressed.
He travels to Sydney once a month for regular doctor’s appointment and treatments.
While Mrs Tremble doesn’t want to block Matthew from living the life of a typical young boy, they have to be cautious.
He can’t play contact sports like rugby league, but that doesn’t stop him from trying his hand at whatever he can, including, hockey, tennis, aus-kick or bike riding.
“I don’t really stop him from doing anything because I believe I gave him a second chance at life not to wrap him up in a bubble but there is rules that I have to stick by from my renal team in Sydney,” she said.
“If you or I get a common cold, that could mean pneumonia for Matthew. Everything is extended.
“If we comes in to contact with Chickenpox, it’s potentially fatal because it attacks what he doesn’t have.
We knock out his immune system all the time with drugs so his body doesn’t recognise the kidney as a foreign object.”
She said the school community of St Peter and Paul’s were a huge support.
“They are aware of our situation so if anything comes into the school they notify me straight away, so I can make the decision whether I want to keep him there or bring him home.
”The kids are really supportive of him and look after him. He has a nice little bunch of mates.”
The gift of life
DESPITE the procedure, Mrs Tremble said her lifestyle has been as normal as ever.
She’s had another baby since the transplant and is keen to promote organ donation in Australia.
“I don’t even feel like I have given anything away.
I’ve had a little girl since the transplant, she’s going on five-years-old and I've had nothing wrong with me whatsoever.
“Australia is the least donating country in the world, which is disgusting.
“I just want people not to be scared of it, because you can have a normal life and you can give someone else a chance of a normal life as well.
You can change someone’s life and their families and just the amount of people that can be touched.”
As for how Matthew feels about his Mum giving a piece of her to him, “it’s awesome. I’m very lucky”.
In early August, the family traveled to Sydney to meet Minister for Health Jillian Skinner at the Sydney Children’s Hospital’s Transplant Golden Jubilee event, to help raise awareness of the importance of organ donation.
Mrs Tremble wished to thank the Convoy For Kids for their ongoing support.