A Lancaster mum has spoken of her teenage son's bravery as she appeals for a kidney donation that could save his life.
Ami Mclennan is hoping to find a kidney match for her 17-year-old son William Verden, who has been having dialysis treatment to keep him alive.
William, who has autism, ADHD (Attention Defecit Hyperactivity Disorder) and complex learning difficulties, has been told by specialists that a kidney transplant is not in his best interests due to a "range of very difficult issues".
But Ami and her family are hoping a court ruling, and a kidney donor, will give him a chance of survival.
"Everybody deserves a chance, everybody is equal," she said.
"He will tell you himself he wants a transplant and he doesn’t want to die."
Listen to Ami Mclennan talking about her appeal for a kidney donor for William:
William's condition was diagnosed in December 2019.
Doctors discovered he had 40% kidney function - which has now reduced to 5% - and FSGS, a rare disease that attacks the kidneys and can cause kidney failure.
William then began home dialysis treatment.
"It took him a while to get used to it because of his learning disabilities but he got there in the end," said Ami.
"He was doing 10 hours a night, 6 days a week.
"Because of his disabilities, it would take us two hours to get him on (to dialysis) and then an hour to take him off, so that was 13 hours out of the day.
"And he doesn't sleep (while he's) on therapy, so that was hard."
William's treatment is now continuing at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital.
The family has launched an appeal to find a donor as they await a court hearing to decide William's future care later this month. They are hoping he can be added to the kidney transplant list.
"I’ve had hundreds of messages on my personal Messenger, on his Team William Facebook page," said Ami.
"I actually can't believe the amount of love and support that has come in for this boy of mine."
William, who goes to The Loyne Specialist School in Lancaster, has continued to follow his passions in life while he awaits a decision on his future.
"He absolutely loves golf," said Ami.
"Somebody gifted him golfing lessons from the Ashton golf club which he started last Sunday. He’s going once a week and I've never seen him smile so much.
"He loves pool and darts, and he loves helping people, doing a job, power washing, painting, you name it, he'll do it.
"You can’t keep this child down."
Ami has asked for people who would like to register interest in donating a kidney to go to the NHS Organ Donation website here.
* A spokesperson for Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, which manages the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, said: “We recognise that this is a very difficult time for William and his family and we will continue to support them.
"Our clinicians have worked very hard to enable William’s treatment to take place so far, and he continues to have his haemodialysis, as agreed with his family, subject to any change in his clinical condition.
"The decision on whether a transplant would be in his best interest is a very complex one, requiring consideration of a range of very difficult issues including significant risks and the possibility that his transplant would fail, which is why the Court of Protection is being asked to make a decision on the best care for William going forward.”
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