High Peak OAP is oldest person in Britain to donate a kidney to a relative – at age 84
A High PeakOAP has become the oldest person in Britain to donate a kidney to a relative - after giving his organ aged 84 to save his critically-ill son-in-law.
Elderly Graham Sisson said he decided to donate a kidney to Ian Tonks, 49, so he could "help him get his life back" after he had been suffering terribly from kidney failure.
Ian, who lives in Buxton, had been on dialysis since 2018 after his organs began 'declining rapidly' following his autoimmune disease - which he was diagnosed with in 2007 - relapsed the same year.
Dialysis is a procedure to remove waste products from your blood if your kidneys are not working properly, according to the NHS.
Then over the next three years doctors also struggled to find ways for Ian to complete dialysis after he suffered infections and sepsis caused by the treatment.
The ex-materials controller was placed on the transplant list in 2019, but after several failed attempts to find a donor Graham, from Chapel-en-le-Frith,, gave Ian a call in summer 2023 and agreed to help him out.
Ian said he only had a "couple of months" left to live before his father-in-law gave him the good news.
The pair underwent the successful transplant surgery - which saw Graham donate his left kidney - with Manchester Royal Infirmary’s living donor transplant team on October 23, 2024.
Specialists at the NHS have said Graham is the oldest person to give a kidney in a 'direct donation' – and now the duo have spoken about their experience.
Direct donation is where a person donates an organ to a person with whom they have a genetic or pre-existing emotional relationship, according to The Human Tissue Authority.
Graham, a retired accountancy consultant who is now 86, said: “I’m thrilled to bits to see Ian’s life change, but others seem to think it is a bigger thing than I do.
“I could see how incredibly ill he was and I wanted to help him get his life back. His whole life revolved around dialysis.
"Many family members put themselves forward but couldn’t donate for various reasons, so I put myself forward and the tests showed I was compatible.
“To make sure it was safe for both of us, I then had 11 months of tests. By this point he was so ill that if the operation had been delayed, he may well have run out of time.
"I did get an award from NHS Blood and Transplant as a Kidney for Life Hero and have a badge, which I wear with pride.
“Recovery was quick for me and I have carried on as normal. We’ve been to the cricket together and have gone to watch Derby County. I’m just glad it worked.”
Ian said he would have died in a 'matter of months' if it weren't for Ian.
He said: “Without Graham, I would have died within a matter of months - without his unbelievable selflessness, I’d be gone. To be that age and do what he has done is incredible.”
Ian has been suffering with kidney problems since 2006 when he collapsed unexpectedly whilst at home.
Test results revealed he suffered from WHAT meaning one day he would need his kidneys replaced.
Ian revealed he underwent his first transplant 12 years ago in 2014, but six years in he started having problems, meaning his kidney health declined.
He said: “I went on dialysis from 2018 up until my recent transplant from Graham. It puts a complete stop to your life.
"It requires a strict routine for spending time on the dialysis machine, meaning I could no longer work and my hobbies stopped.
"I have a classic car I like to work on and go for weekend drives with my partner, I’m a big Birmingham City fan and I enjoyed my work – but all of that ended because of my condition.
“I was placed on the transplant list, but you can face quite a wait because of the demand for organs."
One of his friends went through all the stages of being tested to donate but was unable after it was discovered he had a heart problem meaning he could no longer help.
Ian's wife and Graham's step-daughter, Helen, 55, has previously tried to donate when he first needed a transplant in 2013.
But as she was previously diagnosed with cancer, it meant she wasn't compatible for donation.
He said: “Lots of people said they would be open to donating, but it’s daunting and they would understandably back out.
"Helen was the first person, outside of Pete, who properly meant it.
"Helen’s sister also tried to donate, but our blood types didn’t match - that was when I got a call from Graham one Sunday night.”
Following the phone call Ian said he assumed Graham would have been too old to donate. But organ donations can be made by people of different ages, genders and races, according to the NHS.
Ian said: “I was shell-shocked by Graham’s decision. Total disbelief - he was so confident about wanting to do it. There is truly no gift in the world that matches what he did.
"To this day, my voice cracks whenever I talk about it, knowing how brave he has been for no other reason than to help me. It’s unbelievable – the kindest thing a person has ever done for me.”