A pair of 20-year-old identical twins are set to make medical history by each receiving a new kidney from their mother and their father. Jason and Ashley Roulstone both have Alports Syndrome, a condition that causes kidney failure and means sufferers require a transplant to live a normal life.Medical personnel had hoped their illness, which only began to flare up two years ago, could be managed until they were in their thirties but the youngsters were told last year that they would both need an early transplant.Brave parents; Rob and Ann, had no hesitation in putting themselves forward as the prospective donors and both have undergone a series of tests to check that they are a good match and that they have two healthy kidneys in order to spare one. Robs operation to give a kidney to Jason will now take place at City Hospital in Nottingham next month while Ann is expected to be Ashleys donor later this year once tablets have strengthened his heart muscles.Ann, 52, who works as a home help co-ordinator, said: As a parent you really dont have a choice. As soon as I heard that they would need a transplant I immediately hoped that I could be the donor.It was an automatic reaction. There was never any doubt that we wanted to do it.Professor Neil Turner, chairman of Kidney Research UK, said: I have never heard of anything like it before. Alports Syndrome is an unusual condition and for it to affect two identical twins at the same time and for their parents to both be in a position to give one of their healthy kidneys is extraordinary.If all goes well then these young men have a lot to thank their parents for. Live donor kidneys are the best. You know you are getting a good kidney and an exceptional match. There is a 90 per cent chance of successmeaning that all parties will be back to full and normal health.Both Jason and Ashley were tested for Alports Syndrome, a condition which damages the blood vessels in the kidneys, when they were born because Anns father, uncle, aunt, sister and two cousins were all sufferers.It was diagnosed as being present when they were 10 but only after further tests were carried out in 2008 did doctors find that it was accelerating faster than predicted.Ann said, It was a terrible time. My eldest son, Nathan, who did not have Alports Syndrome, had just died suddenly aged 18 and hearing that the two boys were both getting worse rapidly was just terrible.Jason added, When we were told by the doctor, Mum burst into tears and ran out of the room. Typically, when she calmed down all she wanted to do was to help. She told us there was no room for negativitythat we would be all right and if she could give one of her kidneys then she would.It is such a brave thing for them both to do. We are really proud of them both. If it all works out as we hope it will, this will be the greatest present they have ever given us.Both boys were entirely healthy before the onset of the disease. Jason had started Thai boxing and also enjoyed running and playing for a football team near their home in Long Eaton, Nottinghamshire.After leaving school he had completed a bricklaying course and trained as a roofer, but with the onset of medical problems he re-trained as a barber.Ashley, too, was athletic with a talent for rollerskating. He also trained as a roofer after leaving school. Since the disease has progressed, however, life for both lads has fundamentally changed, along with their diet.As well as undergoing dialysis treatment for four hours three times a week they have to survive on a potassium-free diet. This means no salt, no potatoes, no fruit and all vegetables have to be boiled until they are mush. Their beloved pizza is now allowed only one day a week.They are also restricted on how much fluid they can take in; a maximum of one litre of liquid a day is all that their kidneys can cope withand that includes gravy.Ashley said, It is not quite like being a normal 20-year-old. Our mates are all downing pints but when we do go out we have to survive on shots otherwise we would go over our allowed liquid intake.Their parents will both be forced out of work for at least three months in order to recover from the donor operation.Rob, 49, who works for a concrete firm, has been told there is a 1:3,000 chance of dying during the operation, 1:20 chance of complications and a 1:1,000 chance that he will end up on dialysis because his remaining kidney will not be able to cope.Courtesy: www.dailymail.co.uk
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