Leicester boy's nine-year wait for kidney transplant

A 10-year-old boy with a rare genetic disease has been on the kidney transplant list almost his whole life.

Matthew Pietrzyk, from Glenfield, in Leicestershire, is on dialysis and takes 18 tablets a day.

The youngster, who had his kidneys removed, has been on the waiting list for nine years due to a shortage of donors and problems finding a match.

His mother Nicola, whose own kidney was unsuitable, is urging people to join the NHS Organ Donor Register.

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Matthew was diagnosed with congenital nephrotic syndrome at five weeks old and had both kidneys removed.

A spokeswoman for NHS Blood and Transplant said his nine-year wait is because "high levels of antibodies in his body make it even harder to find a match".

He received a kidney from Mrs Pietrzyk when he was a year old but it was removed following complications.

Mrs Pietrzyk said: "We try to keep life as normal as possible but there are times when it can be very difficult because he's just not free to do the things his friends and brothers can.

"A transplant would change Matthew's life and it would change life for our family."

The family has been told Matthew has a three in 10,000 chance of finding a kidney match.

NHS Blood and Transplant said the waiting list for under-18s to receive a donor kidney is on average 316 days. In the past decade 16 children have died waiting for a kidney.

Sally Johnson, from the service, said: "It is difficult for all patients waiting for a transplant but it can be particularly hard for children and their families.

"Sadly Matthew is not alone and there are currently 65 children on the UK Transplant waiting list for a kidney."

In 2013, thousands of people joined an online campaign to help the boy find a suitable donor without success.