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Antony LevinBritish man who gave a kidney to his daughter
Country:
 Great Britain |
Biography of Antony Levin
Antony Levin, a 47-year-old British father of three, recently found himself in a situation that no parent in the world would want to be in. Two of his children, Kieran and Jade, were in need of kidney transplants, and Antony had to make the difficult decision of which child to donate his kidney to.
Antony lives in Reading, England with his wife Victoria and their three children. Unfortunately, both Kieran and Jade were born with a severe hereditary kidney disease. When Jade was 3 years old, she received a devastating diagnosis, and soon after, it was discovered that 5-year-old Kieran had the same condition. Antony was faced with the unimaginable choice of which child to give his kidney to.
The urgency to save Jade's life became more pressing, and Antony made the selfless decision to donate his kidney to her, leaving Kieran to wait for another donor kidney, as his condition was slightly better. The day before Father's Day, Antony vividly remembers the moment when Jade collapsed in front of the television, unaware that a grave calamity had befallen his family.
Jade was rushed to London's Great Ormond Street Hospital, where the grim diagnosis was revealed. Both Jade and Kieran were given a life expectancy of no more than five years without a kidney transplant. Antony and Victoria lived each day in constant worry for their children. The burden of choosing between Jade and Antony weighed heavily on their hearts.
As Antony and Victoria became more aware of the genetic deviation affecting their children, they came to the heartbreaking realization that if they had never married and had children with other partners, all their children would have been healthy. The combination of Victoria and Antony's genes played a cruel joke on their family, and there was nothing they could do to change that.
The fear of losing Jade led to the fateful decision. Antony vividly recalls the months leading up to the kidney removal surgery, when he unexpectedly tested positive for hepatitis, which he contracted while working in Africa. Despite the risks, Antony knew that finding a kidney for Jade elsewhere would be a lengthy process, so he took the chance and donated his kidney to her.
Antony remembers the day he and Jade bid farewell to their family as they prepared for the operation. It was terrifying, yet there was a sense that they were doing the right thing. Fortunately, the transplant was successful, and Jade's health quickly improved. However, their worries were far from over as Kieran's condition also began to deteriorate.
Constant hospital visits, dialysis, and recovery became Kieran's routine, while his peers enjoyed a carefree childhood. Antony often reflects on the fact that if he had three kidneys, he would have gladly given two to his children. Unfortunately, life doesn't work that way, and he and Victoria continue to live in constant anxiety and guilt.
The story of Antony's family has touched the hearts of countless people around the world. Strangers have offered support and encouragement, understanding the weight of the difficult decision Antony was forced to make. Despite all the challenges, the Levin family remains strong, and life goes on.
