Girl 'smiley' after kidney transplant

Mrs Beytell donated the kidney in January

A Cambridgeshire girl has returned to school following her second successful kidney transplant.

Keeley Beytell-Heron, 12, from Histon, was given her mother's kidney almost five months ago after she became seriously ill.

It replaced a failing donor kidney she received when she was just 17 months old.

Her mother Judy Beytell said: "She's got colour and is cheery and is cycling around".

I felt very privileged that I could do it because there are some parents who can't because they do not match

Judy Beytell

When Keeley was 12 days old, she became the youngest child in Britain to receive kidney dialysis.

At 17 months, she was the youngest and smallest child to have a kidney transplant.

She became seriously ill at the end of last year when the donor kidney began to fail.

Both her father Christopher Heron and mother Judy Beytell proved to be matches, but Mrs Beytell was felt to be the more suited.

In January, she donated her kidney at the Royal Free Hospital, and it was transplanted to Keeley at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Worrying wait

Mrs Beytell, 43, said although it was early days yet, her daughter's life had improved.

"We knew how ill she was and we lived from day to day, but now we think 'what a difference'.

"She's just like a normal child.

"Everyone comments on how smiley she is.

"I felt very privileged that I could do it because there are some parents who can't because they do not match."