Kidney transplant has boy high-fiving and thriving

A high-fiving, fist-bumping four-year-old boy is said to be thriving and preparing for school after receiving the "wonderful gift" of a kidney transplant.

Reagan received the transplant at the renal unit at Birmingham's Children's Hospital in 2024, after being diagnosed with kidney disease as a baby.

He is one of about 30 children to have the procedure at the specialist centre each year, said Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the site.

Reagan's mum Michelle, from Kingswinsford, Dudley, said she was "forever grateful".

Reagan was diagnosed with kidney disease when he lost weight shortly after being born, with blood tests showing high potassium and sodium levels.

"Reagan spent the first two and a half years of his life in and out of hospital," Michelle said.

"Almost everyone on ward one at the Children's [hospital] has known Reagan since he was a tiny newborn baby. They have watched him grow and become the cheeky chappy he is today."

After several surgical procedures starting when he was just 13 weeks old, Reagan underwent a kidney transplant last autumn and is now set to start school later this year.

Michelle added she was grateful to her son's donor and those who had looked after him at the hospital.

"The gift of a transplant is just the most wonderful gift you can give," she added.

"A part of you can live on in someone else and give them the best chance in life."

Dr Alex Lalayiannis, consultant paediatric nephrologist at the hospital, said Reagan had shown "remarkable bravery and resilience".

"His infectious cheerfulness always brightens my day and I enjoy his high fives and fist bumps," he said.

"I am always in awe of kidney donors and their families, who make such a courageous decision to donate."

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