A determined dad has decided to donate his own kidney to a stranger in the hope that his sacrifice could save his beloved wife's life.
Teddy Heard, 36, quit his job to care for Sossa Starshine, 40, who needs a life-saving operation, as well as their four-year-old son Sirius.
His 40-year-old wife's kidneys are shutting down due to renal disease, causing her to suffer catastrophic seizures.
Sossa, who worked as a vet but left her job when doctors became concerned for her health in 2020, is in the fourth year of a five-year path for indefinite leave to remain in the UK, so she is not entitled to any support benefits.
The woman, who moved to England from the US, meets the requirements for Disability Living Allowance, Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payments (PIP) - but is not entitled to claim any public funds due to her visa restrictions.
The situation, described by Teddy as "unbearable", has plunged the family into financial hardship, made even worse due to the ongoing cost of living crisis.
The man, who lives with his family near Shepton Mallet, Somerset, wants to do all he can to help his wife, but unfortunately, he cannot give her his kidney.
He explained: "My wife is blood group O, which means she is a universal donor so if she was to give a kidney, she could give to anyone. However it also means she can also receive from another blood type O.
"I would love to give my wife my kidney and, even though my kidney function is 120 out of 120, which is unheard of basically for anyone over the age of 12, I can't help. I went to the doctors and said 'just open me up and rip my kidney out and give it to my wife. I don't care. Just save my wife and let her have a life again'. There's nothing they can do."
For this reason, Teddy will give a kidney to the Living Donor Kidney Transplantation pool, which is a register that amasses organs that can be used for surgeries across the country.
His kidney may be swapped with a blood group O one donated by another person in the country.
He added: "The likelihood of someone being the right match in a donor pool is a struggle really, as you are talking about people wanting to make a choice to actually join the donor pool. There are a number of gates to go through so the odds are stacked against us.
"It is a life-saving operation though. She could have a seizure today and die."
Just like numerous households around the country, the family has seen their outgoings going up, with their latest combined electric and gas bill reaching around £225 for just one month's usage.
Teddy cannot claim Carer's Allowance because Sossa is not deemed to require support as she isn't claiming benefits.
The loving husband said: "Doctors agree as my function is to literally look after my wife. Even though I am my wife's carer, even though the people at the Job Centre have acknowledged I am my wife's carer, because she doesn't get paid Disability Living Allowance, I cannot apply for Carer's Allowance.
"I just want my family back. We are trying to survive on Universal Credit for one adult. I get £350 a month and that's for me, my wife and our son to try to survive on. My son gets another £180 a month. Our rent is covered by housing benefit but we cannot afford our bills. We use a food bank regularly just to get by.
"It has become unbearable. We were already struggling with the cost of living but now it's crazy. Bills have gone up three fold. My wife is entitled, though, to nothing.
"Although she meets the eligibility requirements for Disability Living Allowance as her gout, suffered as a result of the kidney failure, makes it nearly impossible to walk, she can't get Disability Living Allowance because she is on a visa. The visa says she is not entitled to public funds. She can't even get Universal Credit because the visa says she is not entitled to public funds, she can't get PIP because the visa says she is not entitled to public funds.
"We were making every sacrifice we could for some time but [...] we are basically stuck in a situation where energy bills have tripled. We can't afford that. It is insane."
Sossa was diagnosed with an end-stage renal disease 18 years ago when she lived in New Jersey, US, but over the years it has worsened.
With time running out, the family is crowdfunding to be able to advance the immigration case by 12 months so Sossa can finally claim Disability Living Allowance, Universal Credit and PIP and ease the struggle. It will cost at least £2,400 for the application.
Her kidneys have weakened over the years and, after a recent seizure caused by the disease, her kidney function plunged to just four per cent.
A Home Office spokesperson said: "Customers here on the family route to settlement as the spouse of a British partner are not routinely issued with access to public funds.
"Any customer who believes their financial circumstances have changed to the extent where they need additional support, are destitute or at risk of destitution or the welfare of their child is at risk due to their low income, can submit a free application for a Change of Conditions on Gov.uk."
You can donate to the fundraiser here.
