Queensland’s first double lung transplant mum Kate Rootsey in need of live kidney donor

The state’s first woman to give birth after having a double lung transplant is facing the heartbreaking prospect of not living to see the baby she worked so hard to have grow up, as she races the clock to find a new organ donor.

Queensland’s first woman to have a baby after undergoing a double lung transplant now faces the cruel prospect of not being able to watch the child she worked so hard to have grow up.

Gold Coast woman and cystic fibrosis patient Kate Rootsey, 43, was the first double lung transplant recipient in Queensland to ever give birth.

She had her transplant at The Prince Charles Hospital in 2007 after a near-death experience and thanks to the kindness of another grieving family.

Kate and her husband chef John Rootsey welcomed “miracle baby” Molly in February 2013 — a blessing Kate had to risk her own life to bring to fruition.

Kate Rootsey with her daughter Molly. Picture – contributed.

The past 10 years of Mrs Rootsey’s life have been dedicated the joy of the motherhood she so longed for, as well as giving her time to Donate Life Australia and to speak at schools and corporate events to raise awareness of cystic fibrosis.

Incredibly, she also competed in the 2018 Transplant Games and was a torch bearer at the Commonwealth Games.

However a side effect of her condition has meant she has also been battling chronic kidney disease.

Things escalated on Sunday, August 6, when Mrs Rootsey was rushed to Gold Coast Hospital with a life-threatening internal bleeding.

Her childhood best friend and fellow cystic fibrosis patient Carly-Jay Metcalfe said it was touch and go.

“She was in agony … she had a stomach bleed and lost two and a half litres of blood,” Ms Metcalfe said.

“She nearly died on the operating table. The only option was to put her in an induced coma for a few days and give her multiple blood transfusions.

“She’s been having issues with her kidneys for about 18 months and has been on a waiting list for a transplant.”

John, Kate, and Molly Rootsey. Picture – contributed.

The stomach bleed — which doctors say was most likely from a mixture of cystic fibrosis, being on blood thinners, and her kidney issues — now means Mrs Rootsey’s kidneys were only working 8 per cent capacity.

“The waiting list for a kidney transplant is four to seven years,” Ms Metcalfe said.

“She needs a live kidney donor to survive.

“Since waking up in hospital she’s just been taking it day by day but she could only have a matter of weeks left.”

In a cruel twist, Mrs Rootsey’s mother and husband are both donor matches but have been ruled out by doctors for other medical reasons.

“It was really heartbreaking for them to learn this,” Ms Metcalfe said.

To help the family through one of Kate’s darkest moments, her best friend created a GoFundMe page.

“John is out of annual leave and has had to take leave without pay to be there for Kate,” Ms Metcalfe said.

“It’s so he can continue being there to support her through this.

“It’s even more complicated because Molly is supposed to be having a heart surgery this year too.

“It’s been really hard but she’s stayed remarkably positive and grateful. She makes a point to tell us every day that she’s shocked by all of the support,” Ms Metcalfe said.

Kate Rootsey and Carly-Jay Metcalfe have been friends since they were 10 years old. Picture – contributed.

“But she’s also had her darker moments. It’s been a lot for one woman to go through.

“She’s always saying ‘all I want is to see my daughter grow up’ and ‘I just want to be the best mum in the world for Molly’.

“She needs a live kidney donor. Without one she will die.

“She lives on a razor’s edge having had a lung transplant and she went through so much to conceive and have Molly.

“She lives for her daughter and is an incredible mum. She’s involved in all aspects of her daughter’s life but she’s not a helicopter parent.

“Molly has the most beautiful manners and is a kind, loving and affectionate girl just like her mum.

“Having seen her mum in intensive care after nearly dying was so hard for her since they’re so close.”

John and Kate Rootsey. Picture – GoFundMe.

This week, Mrs Rootsey, who has been brought out of her induced coma, managed to climb out of her hospital bed and go for her first small walk — guided by her beautiful miracle daughter Molly.

“Kate is mentally and physically wrecked from this whole ordeal,” Ms Metcalfe said.

“Her haemoglobin level seems to be stable for the moment and daily blood tests are closely monitoring this.

“When she’s well enough, Kate will be on dialysis until a kidney becomes available. Each day brings it’s own challenges, but she wants to thank every blood donor for making the load easier to bear and said without them she wouldn’t be here today.”

You can donate to support Kate and her family here.