Father's Day: Dad gave me a kidney so I can have my dream wedding
Kieran Innes was just 25 when he was diagnosed with kidney failure and told he would need dialysis three times a week. He was devastated and worried that he would have to curtail plans of a dream wedding and honeymoon with fiancée Lara Russell. Two years later his future has been transformed thanks to his kidney donor - his 63-year-old dad Brian. "This has 100% made our bond stronger, I feel forever like I owe him," said Kieran. "Everything I'm able to do now is because of him and I have no worries any more."
The couple are due to tie the knot in Uphall, West Lothian, next month before jetting off on a "minimoon" to New York, followed by a honeymoon in Italy in October. "Things would be a lot different had I still been on dialysis," the 27-year-old pizza chef said."We were planning the wedding anyway but things would have been a lot different had I still been on dialysis and the honeymoon would have been a bit of a disaster to plan."You can do it but it involves the NHS arranging for dialysis in another country, which is incredible that they can do that, but would have been very difficult."Kieran began feeling very unwell when he was on a family holiday in Cullen, Moray, in July 2022. In St John's Hospital in Livingston the following day, he was told his blood pressure was "through the roof". Six weeks later, medics said his kidneys were failing. He was fitted with a stent in his chest and he was put on dialysis.
Kieran "absolutely hated" having the stent. It made showering difficult because it was not to get wet and he feared catching it on his clothing and bed sheets.He was put on the waiting list for a kidney but was warned that it could take a very long time.So his fiancée, Lara, 29, asked both their families for a live kidney donation."That was something I was petrified about, I don't know how to approach that kind of thing but I had a lot of help from my fiancée, she was really forward in helping me ask," Kieran said.Eight people came forward to offer their kidney including Lara's dad and Kieran's brother and sister.However, Kieran's dad was the one the hospital chose to go forward with the operation in March 2024.
Brian, who lives in Prestonpans in East Lothian, told BBC Scotland News how he was "anxious and nervous" at the thought of the operation.The father-of-seven said: "They go over the scenarios, they have to be truthful, as with any surgery, and they said there was a chance of death and I was thinking about my other six children."However, kidney transplants are quite routine now and although it was always at the back of my mind I wasn't that anxious about it and once I made the decision I was committed to it."Brian had found it hard seeing how much his son was suffering on dialysis and wanted to do something to change the situation. He added: "He was elated when I told him I would give him a kidney and thought it was wonderful that I was doing it for him."
When Brian woke up after the surgery he felt "relieved" and immediately asked if his son was well."Kieran's life is back to normal now and he's back working," Brian said. "He wouldn't be able to go straight to New York after the wedding [without the transplant]."It's definitely brought us closer together. He's always hugging me now and he arranged a trip for us to go away together earlier this year as a thank you."I'm proud of what I did. I'm sure anyone would do that for their kids."
Brian, who has worked as a cameraman for BBC Scotland for more than 40 years, bounced back quickly from the operation. He was back at work on light duties after eight weeks and flew out to cover the European football championships in Germany a further four weeks later in June 2024.The kidney should last about 25 years, meaning Kieran will need about three transplants in his lifetime.So what will Brian be thinking this Father's Day? "Obviously I have seven kids so you've got to think about them all but I have a soft spot for Kieran and what I did for him," he said.Kieran said: "I feel so happy now, I owe my dad my life. I'm able to get married stress-free now and have my dream wedding because of him and be able to spend time with my siblings and fiancée as well as plan to travel and then settle down to have children."
For more information and support on organ transplants, visit BBC Action Line.
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A West Lothian man who was diagnosed with stage 5 kidney disease, has been given a second chance at life after his father stepped in to donate his kidney. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Kieran Innes from Livingston, first learned of the diagnosis after visiting hospital in July 2022 with impaired vision, high blood pressure and an intense headache. The disease had reduced the 27-year-old's kidney function to just 10 per cent and within a month, Kieran started dialysis three times a week at St John's Hospital. An appeal for a donor saw an incredible amount of people come forward to save Kieran from a future on dialysis, including some of his closest friends and extended family members. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But it was Kieran's father Brian who emerged as the most compatible match and the pair underwent the lifesaving transplant operation at The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh in March last year. Reflecting on their experience ahead of Father's Day, both Brian and Kieran are filled with gratitude and Kieran has made a full recovery, returned to work as a chef, and is now preparing for his wedding to fiancée Lara on July 5 in Uphall, West Lothian. Advising others facing a similar situation, Kieran said: 'Please don't lose hope. It can be incredibly difficult to keep positive, especially when you feel that everything is against you. I am testament to the fact that things truly do get better' | NHS Lothian Kieran said: 'Since the transplant, my life has changed completely and I'm doing really well. The operation not only kept me alive, but it has allowed me to live my life how I want to. I am now able to focus on the things I should at this stage in my life, and enjoy the things I love doing with the people I love the most. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I am back to working full time and can focus on my future with my soon-to-be wife and having children. Those two years following my diagnosis and during dialysis really do feel like a bad dream. The difference between before the transplant and afterwards is like night and day. 'Thanks to my dad, I feel like I've been given a second chance. I can't thank him enough for the incredible gift he gave me, and I'll never be able to express how grateful I am to him.' Loving father, Brian Innes, said: "The donor matching process was relatively straightforward; I discovered my blood group was O positive therefore compatible for Kieran and as his father I was a 50 per cent tissue match. When it was confirmed that I could donate, the living donor transplant team were in touch regularly and were always available for information." Kieran said he can't thank his dad enough 'for the incredible gift he gave me'. The 27-year-old will marry his partner Lara in Uphall next month | NHS Lothian The 63-year-old from Prestonpans added: 'If anyone is thinking of coming forward as a donor, I would like to reassure them that personally, I have had no issues and am living life as normally as I was before the transplant. There are risks – like with any surgery – but seeing Kieran healthy and happy is the greatest reward any father could ask for, and the difference now to when he first went on dialysis is incredible. It really was a no-brainer for me to donate my kidney to my son.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad John Terrace, Consultant Transplant Surgeon at NHS Lothian said: 'This is a truly inspiring story of family and hope. We are thrilled to see such a positive outcome for Kieran, and we are incredibly grateful to Brian for his generosity and willingness to give his son the gift of life. Living donors really do change lives. 'Their journey is a testament to the transformative impact of living kidney donation. We wish Kieran and his family the very best.' Kieran added: 'The renal team within NHS Lothian were amazing, and I'd particularly like to pass on a big thank you to the brilliant staff involved in my dialysis at St John's Hospital, as well as the surgeons who undertook the operation at the RIE.' For more information about organ donation you can visit the NHS Lothian website.
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Kieran Innes was just 25 when he was diagnosed with kidney failure and told he would need dialysis three times a week. He was devastated and worried that he would have to curtail plans of a dream wedding and honeymoon with fiancée Lara Russell. Two years later his future has been transformed thanks to his kidney donor - his 63-year-old dad Brian. "This has 100% made our bond stronger, I feel forever like I owe him," said Kieran. "Everything I'm able to do now is because of him and I have no worries any more." The couple are due to tie the knot in Uphall, West Lothian, next month before jetting off on a "minimoon" to New York, followed by a honeymoon in Italy in October. "Things would be a lot different had I still been on dialysis," the 27-year-old pizza chef said."We were planning the wedding anyway but things would have been a lot different had I still been on dialysis and the honeymoon would have been a bit of a disaster to plan."You can do it but it involves the NHS arranging for dialysis in another country, which is incredible that they can do that, but would have been very difficult."Kieran began feeling very unwell when he was on a family holiday in Cullen, Moray, in July 2022. In St John's Hospital in Livingston the following day, he was told his blood pressure was "through the roof". Six weeks later, medics said his kidneys were failing. He was fitted with a stent in his chest and he was put on dialysis. Kieran "absolutely hated" having the stent. It made showering difficult because it was not to get wet and he feared catching it on his clothing and bed was put on the waiting list for a kidney but was warned that it could take a very long his fiancée, Lara, 29, asked both their families for a live kidney donation."That was something I was petrified about, I don't know how to approach that kind of thing but I had a lot of help from my fiancée, she was really forward in helping me ask," Kieran people came forward to offer their kidney including Lara's dad and Kieran's brother and Kieran's dad was the one the hospital chose to go forward with the operation in March 2024. Brian, who lives in Prestonpans in East Lothian, told BBC Scotland News how he was "anxious and nervous" at the thought of the father-of-seven said: "They go over the scenarios, they have to be truthful, as with any surgery, and they said there was a chance of death and I was thinking about my other six children."However, kidney transplants are quite routine now and although it was always at the back of my mind I wasn't that anxious about it and once I made the decision I was committed to it."Brian had found it hard seeing how much his son was suffering on dialysis and wanted to do something to change the situation. He added: "He was elated when I told him I would give him a kidney and thought it was wonderful that I was doing it for him." When Brian woke up after the surgery he felt "relieved" and immediately asked if his son was well."Kieran's life is back to normal now and he's back working," Brian said. "He wouldn't be able to go straight to New York after the wedding [without the transplant]."It's definitely brought us closer together. He's always hugging me now and he arranged a trip for us to go away together earlier this year as a thank you."I'm proud of what I did. I'm sure anyone would do that for their kids." Brian, who has worked as a cameraman for BBC Scotland for more than 40 years, bounced back quickly from the operation. He was back at work on light duties after eight weeks and flew out to cover the European football championships in Germany a further four weeks later in June kidney should last about 25 years, meaning Kieran will need about three transplants in his what will Brian be thinking this Father's Day? "Obviously I have seven kids so you've got to think about them all but I have a soft spot for Kieran and what I did for him," he said: "I feel so happy now, I owe my dad my life. I'm able to get married stress-free now and have my dream wedding because of him and be able to spend time with my siblings and fiancée as well as plan to travel and then settle down to have children." For more information and support on organ transplants, visit BBC Action Line.
