A Scots mum whose little boy had to undergo three blood transfusions has spoken of her 'happiness and relief' after he was allowed home from hospital in time for Christmas. Rico Thompson, seven, was diagnosed with Stage 4 chronic kidney disease shortly after he was born and spent his first few years in and out of hospital.
The Lossiemouth schoolboy underwent a transplant in 2019 after his mum, Katie, donated one of her kidneys to him. This helped Rico's condition remain stable for the next three years, but a routine blood test in November sparked concerns over his creatinine levels.
To relieve some of the stress on his kidneys, he underwent surgery at Glasgow's Royal Hospital for Children where doctors inserted a suprapubic catheter into his bladder and a stent in his ureter. However, the youngster lost quite a lot blood during the operation and was quickly set up on a blood transfusion by doctors.
Mum Katie, 30, said: "Before the transfusions, Rico was almost lifeless. He was so pale that you couldn't even see his lips. His eyes went really dark and he was cold to touch.
"But after his third round the difference in him was amazing. You could finally see that he was getting colour back in his cheeks. Me and my husband were sitting there crying our eyes out and he was just trying to make us all laugh and smile."
Rico spent almost three weeks in hospital, with mum Katie staying at nearby Ronald McDonald house while dad Jack, 32, travelled back and forth at weekends from the family home in Lossiemouth with Rico's two big sisters Carmel, 12, and Skylar-Rae, 8. He was eventually well enough be discharged on December 6.
Katie continued: "The team of medics who look after Rico are just incredible, especially the team on Ward 3C.
"To see him being well enough to come home for Christmas just weeks after being so poorly was amazing.
"I didn't tell anyone it was happening and decided to surprise the whole family - my husband, his sisters, my mum and mother-in-law. I even surprised my dad at his work. There were a lot of happy tears.
"Rico even managed to get to his school nativity and watch his pals perform. It was great to see him singing and clapping along."
The family enjoyed a 'cosy Christmas', with Katie adding that the most important for the Thompson's was simply to 'be together'.
She said: "Rico has had over 20 surgeries since he was born. He has had all of this thrown at him, but he is strong. He is my hero.
"So the most important thing for Christmas this year was just to be together. It was so cosy, with us all round the fire in our jammies. Just a nice, chilled day."
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