A woman from Cornwall has lost more than 10 stone so she could donate a kidney to her mother, who has been living with chronic kidney disease since childhood.
Ealesa Evers, 33, weighed over 317lbs (22 stone 9lbs) when doctors told her she needed to lose weight before she could be considered as a donor for her mother, Colleen Body, 55. Over 18 months, Ealesa shed 122lbs (8 stone 10lbs) through diet and exercise, bringing her weight down to 195lbs (13 stone 13lbs).
Ms Evers said her mother's illness gave her the motivation she needed. 'I don't think I would have done it without mum getting sick. Doing it for myself wasn't enough, but doing it for the most important person was the big push I needed,' she said.
Colleen was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 17 and later with chronic kidney disease. Her condition deteriorated after the death of her mother from Covid-19 in 2020, and she now requires haemodialysis three times a week. Ealesa moved back to Cornwall to support her.
After losing the weight, Ealesa was tested in January 2023 and found to be a close match. She has undergone a series of tests and is now awaiting a date for the transplant. She has also raised £830 for Kidney Research UK by running 100km and plans to run the 2026 London Marathon.
