Made In Chelsea star Sam Vanderpump has revealed that he initially turned down his mother's offer to donate part of her liver, concerned about the potential harm to her health. The 29-year-old reality star is battling end-stage liver disease due to rare conditions including congenital hepatic fibrosis and polycystic kidney disease, which require a transplant for survival.
Initial Reluctance
Speaking on ITV's Good Morning Britain, Vanderpump explained his first reaction to his mother's offer. "That first instinct from my mum, and other family members and friends, was 'we want to help you,' and my first reaction was, 'no, I've got this illness, why would I want to subject a loved one to this disease?'" He told host Susanna Reid that his primary concern was the risk of complications during his mother's donation process.
Change of Heart
However, new information has prompted a shift in his perspective. "As we've learned more, and you learn a lot more in the documentary, the risk to a live donor is so minimal that they would only accept 20 per cent of live donors that volunteer, because of the extensive testing to ensure there are no risks," he stated. Vanderpump highlighted the UK's safety record, adding: "In the UK, we've had no fatalities from live donors, which I learned recently, and that started to turn my head to maybe accepting this idea."
Brother's Testing
His wife, model Alice, who appeared alongside him, disclosed that Vanderpump's brother is currently undergoing tests to assess his suitability as a live donor. The couple welcomed their first child, Marmaduke, earlier this year, which significantly influenced Alice's view on the donation.
Alice described it as "hard to hear" her husband reject his mother's offer but acknowledged she could relate. "I could also relate because I'd feel the same in his situation, but because we were expecting a baby, it changed my perspective even more. You think about the worst-case scenario, but you have to make decisions that will benefit your family. If I looked back and thought we didn't consider an option that could have helped Sam, and something went wrong, I would have hated myself."
Background
Beyond reality TV, Vanderpump manages finance companies in the UK and Dubai and previously pursued a career as a racing driver. He is also the nephew of Lisa Vanderpump, known for The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills and Vanderpump Rules. His journey will be further explored in Made In Chelsea: Sam Vanderpump's Story, airing on E4 at 9pm on Tuesday.
