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Local Ad Leads to Miraculous Kidney Transplant Match
13 Mar
Summary
- Mother's newspaper ad found a kidney donor for her daughter.
- The unexpected donor was the journalist who published the appeal.
- Transplant recipient calls her donor 'my hero'.
A teenage girl, Maya Solecki, whose kidneys were severely damaged by an E.coli infection in January 2024, received a life-saving kidney transplant thanks to a newspaper appeal. Her mother, Maria Solecki, placed an advert in the local paper after family and friends were unsuitable donors. This plea, made in March 2025, resulted in approximately 20 people coming forward for testing.
In a truly unexpected turn, the journalist Maya's mother had contacted, Emma Palmer, was found to be a match after extensive health checks concluded in November of the previous year. The transplant operation took place in January of this year, nine weeks ago, and Maya is now recovering well. She described Palmer as her hero and expressed immense gratitude, stating she feels amazing and the best she has since falling ill.
Palmer, who had a healthy family life, felt compelled to offer a kidney after learning no match had been found for Maya. She has since met Maya and her mother, feeling like family. The wait for a kidney transplant can exceed three years, with around 150 children currently on the waiting list. Maria Solecki urged others to consider donation to give children a chance at a normal life.
