Brynna mum's Facebook kidney plea prompts stranger to donate
A mother of four in Wales received a lifesaving kidney transplant after a stranger saw her plea on Facebook and volunteered to donate. The donor, Gary Summerfield, stepped forward after learning he was a match, significantly shortening the patient's wait time.
Why it matters
This story highlights the growing role of social media in facilitating organ donation and the impact of altruistic living donors on healthcare outcomes.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Matt Murray BBC Wales BBC Gary Summerfield told his family "this lady needs one of my kidneys more than I need two of them" A woman who shared a desperate plea for a kidney on Facebook has undergone a lifesaving transplant after a stranger offered to be her donor.
Karen Davey, 41, had exhausted every avenue before turning to social media, where she said she did not "want to leave her family without a mother".
Gary Summerfield saw the mum-of-four's post and, after learning he was a match, donated one of his kidneys via an operation in July.
"I thought this lady needs one of my kidneys more than I need two of them," said Gary.
Karen's family said they would never be able to repay Gary for his generosity, adding that it had given her "another chance to be a mum".
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in