A Tadcaster man has donated his kidney to save the life of an 11-year-old girl, following the loss of his own daughter to kidney disease.
Andy Emmott, 55, who works at Northern Powergrid, made the life-changing decision after seeing an appeal for a young girl named Amber.
The donation was inspired by Emmott’s daughter Sarah, who had received a kidney transplant from a stranger before her death at just eight years old.
“I saw the appeal for Amber and there were so many similarities between Amber and Sarah that I felt I just had to put myself forward,” said Emmott.
Man donates kidney to girl, 11, after losing his own daughter to fatal diseaseNorthern PowergridSarah had been diagnosed with congenital nephrotic syndrome and received treatment during the coronavirus pandemic.
Despite a widespread campaign supported by Leeds United and midfielder Kalvin Phillips to find a donor, Sarah tragically passed away exactly 364 days after receiving her kidney transplant.
“I donated a kidney because a kind stranger donated one to my daughter,” Emmott explained.
The experience led Emmott to become a donor himself, and fortunately, he proved to be “a very good match” for Amber.
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Since Sarah’s diagnosis, Emmott has worked tirelessly to raise funds for Theodora Children’s Charity, which supported his daughter during her stays at Leeds General Infirmary.
The charity deploys 21 “Giggle Doctors” who visit children in hospital, combining music, play, magic and storytelling to bring joy to young patients.
“They brought so much joy and laughter to her and were a great distraction for her,” Emmott said.
These professional performers, from Dr Boogie Woodie to Dr Teapot, wear personalised doctor coats representing their characters and spend one-on-one time with children facing serious illnesses.
The charity works to improve children’s mental health and build emotional resilience during hospital stays.
Emmott has now returned to his job at Northern Powergrid, though currently limited to office duties while he recovers from surgery.
His manager, Amanda White, shared her admiration during a visit to Emmott’s home during his recovery period.
“Her presence is everywhere, photo after photo,” White said.
“What is obvious is how loved she is and how happy she was despite everything she was going through.”
“In every photo, Sarah is wearing the most infectious smile,” she added.
“For Andy to change the life of another little girl after such a painful loss is incredible.”
The team at Northern Powergrid expressed pride in Emmott’s actions and wished both him and Amber a full recovery.
If you’d like to donate to Theodora Children Charity and support the fantastic work that they do, you can visit their giving page HERE