EXCLUSIVE
By Vicki Robinson
Health Reporter
JON Isbell is looking forward to a happy and HEALTHY new year – after receiving the gift of life from his devoted dad.
Bingo caller Jon was facing a bleak future until he had a life-saving kidney swap operation using an organ donated by his father David.
And for the first time he says he has reason to celebrate the start of another year.
He said: "New year, new me!
"I feel like I've been given a fresh start and it's all thanks to dad.
"There just aren't words to say how I feel about him – he's the best dad in the world."
Jon, 22, was born with a condition called post urethral valves, which caused his kidneys to stop functioning properly. For years he survived on just one partially-functioning organ, but 18 months ago that, too, began to stop working.
Mum Pam, from Cross Gates, Leeds, had always planned to donate one of her organs when Jon became seriously ill.
But in a cruel twist of fate, she herself was struck down by an entirely different sort of kidney failure when Jon was just four. After surviving on dialysis for three years, she had her own transplant 15 years ago.
Her life was saved, but it meant she would not be able to help Jon when his condition worsened.
Instead, dad David stepped in and tests showed he was a perfect match for his son.
And after 18 months of preparations, the pair underwent a live kidney transplant operation in adjoining theatres at St James's Hospital in October.
Surgeons spent more than three hours removing the healthy kidney from David and another two-and-a-half implanting it into Jon.
Both are now well on the road to recovery.
Jon said: "I feel like a different person. Before the operation I was constantly exhausted.
"I was doing a music and theatre course when I started to get really ill and it got to the point where I was so tired I couldn't perform.
"Now I can't wait to get back on the stage!
"Dad's really given me a second chance and I'm going to live my life to the full."
Trade union official David, 49, admits to being "more than a bit frightened" by the thought of the surgery but says he would "do it all again".
He said: "I was a bit nervous, it's quite a big operation. But he's my son, it never even crossed my mind that I wouldn't do it.
"This time last year, things were not good, Jon wasn't improving.
"But this year, everything's different and we've all got something to look forward to."
Teacher mum Pam, also 49, said: "When I fell ill I was more concerned about not being able to help Jon than about my own health. But I'm just so thankful that David was a match – and so proud of him for doing such an amazing thing. This will be the best New Year ever."

• To sign up to the national organ donor register, call 0845 60 60 400 or go to www.uktransplant.org.uk
vicki.robinson@ypn.co.uk