Hetty’s selfless act to save life of teenage neighbour

'I just thought, what if it was my kid': One woman's selfless act has gifted life to her teenage neighbour.

SACRIFICE: Hetty Hensen donated one of her kidneys to her ex-neighbour in a true act of altruism. Photo: John McCutcheon / Sunshine Coast Daily

A FRIENDLY chat between new neighbours lead a local volunteer and business owner to give the "gift of life".

After moving in across the road from the Wolfenden family eight years ago Hetty Hensen became aware of the rare genetic condition affecting their two children, Sebastian, 19 and Raphael, 8, and never hesitated in offering to donate her kidney.

"They mentioned the blood group and it was mine and I thought 'I have to offer to be tested'," Mrs Hensen said.

"So, I wrote a letter to the family saying that I would be happy to be tested to donate my kidney.

"I just thought 'what if it was my kid'."

While the siblings received kidney donations from their parents, Mark and Emily, Seb's kidney failed, and he was put on dialysis in 2017.

"When his dad's kidney failed after 10 years, he had to be on dialysis daily and you don't have a life then, your illness is your life," Mrs Hensen said.

The Melbourne-based family hoped a close family member could donate but after having no luck Mark Wolfenden said Mrs Hensen, who volunteers at Burnside's STEMM program, became Seb's second chance.

"We were very fortunate to have Hetty offering to donate," Mr Wolfenden said.

"She gave the gift of life to Seb and another chance."

GIFT: Seb and Hetty together.

Seb and his brother were born with congenital nephrotic syndrome which affects nutrition, growth and development meaning the kidneys leak proteins like a tea bag with no filter.

After passing 15 months of testing Mrs Hensen travelled to Melbourne and donated her kidney to Seb on October 31.

"For me it was never a big thing," Mrs Hensen said.

"I thought it was a no-brainer, it was only when I started talking about it that it seemed to be a big deal for others."

Mrs Hensen said she "never had any doubt" that she wanted to donate her kidney, but the doctors wanted to "look her in the eyes and explain the risks".

"It was just numbers for me, there's risks, but I thought just living life is a higher risk than donating a kidney, so I never changed my mind," Mrs Hensen said.

Seb is still recovering from the operation, but Mrs Hensen said she hopes the "amazing guy" can live a normal life once he does.

"I really hope he gets his life back, at the moment he identifies with his illness because there is nothing else in his life, it's just dealing with that and staying alive," Mrs Hensen said.

"I hope he can have a life, see friends, do some travelling and find a nice girl."

Mrs Hensen who owns social business Tasje said she understands "donating an organ is not for everyone" but urged people to "follow their heart" and donate blood instead.

"If you want to do something useful without going through an operation you can donate blood, one donation can save up to three lives," Ms Hensen said.

Looking to the future Mr Wolfenden said a new implantable bioartificial kidney from The Kidney Project would create a permeant solution to end-stage renal disease and "will change the life of millions of people around the world".