Mother's gift of love for sick daughter
A young woman is recovering in hospital after a second successful kidney transplant - from a family member.
Two decades ago Faye Hawkins received her father's kidney - now she has her mum's.
Rose Hawkins and her daughter Faye emerged from a successful transplant operation at the Royal Melbourne Hospital with a unique bond.
A part of Rose - her kidney - is now living inside her daughter.
"She did say early this morning that she was sore, and then she said 'thank you mum for your kidney' and that really hit the heart," Rose said.
It is a bond Faye also shares with her father.
The 26-year-old underwent the same operation when she was aged just three.
Her father, Barry, donated his kidney to save Faye's life.
"She's got both of ours now," Barry said.
Faye was born missing part of her kidney - a condition that also affects her hearing and speech.
Most kidney transplants last 10 to 15 years, but after 23 years the kidney Faye received from her father was operating at 10 per cent capacity.
The second transplant means she can live a full life without dialysis.
The Royal Melbourne Hospital's Dr Peter Hughes said: "It was incredibly successful. Faye's blood tests today, one day after the operation, show a normal kidney function."
Until recently, Rose could not give Faye her kidney because he blood type was different.
Advances in medical science have made the transplant possible.
Professor Steve Holt, director of the renal unit at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, said: "Everybody knows we have different blood groups, but until recently those have prevented us to make transplants across different blood groups, but now we have the technology to be able to do that."
Faye will spend at least five days in hospital under constant observation.
She is hoping to be released on Tuesday - her 27th birthday.
When she is feeling better, Faye's dream is to travel Australia in a caravan.
