Etta Cartmill, a three-year-old who has spent much of her young life in hospital, is facing a second life-changing transplant. Born with a rare genetic condition, she and her older brother Olly suffered from kidney failure. Olly underwent a kidney transplant in September 2023, receiving a live donation from his grandmother, Michelle. Etta has already received a life-changing liver transplant, and she is now thriving, according to her mother. However, she is preparing to receive a new kidney. The condition, known only as TTC21B, is so rare that it doesn't even have a common name. Etta's parents, Dionne and Neil, have been taking her from Bessbrook, County Armagh, to Belfast up to five times a week for dialysis and to Birmingham for specialist care. Dionne is a match for a kidney and is hopeful surgery can be arranged soon. The family learned about Etta's liver transplant a year ago, and after an 11-hour surgery, she is now thriving with a healthy liver. Her mother, Dionne, is also set to donate a kidney to her daughter, expressing her delight and eagerness to help her daughter. Olly, who has also undergone a kidney transplant, has turned into a full of energy and ideas boy. The family's resilience and dedication to Etta's health have been remarkable, and their story highlights the importance of organ donation and the impact it can have on young lives.
