Bethanie Thompson, 30, was devastated when her mum was hospitalised with renal kidney failure – and she stepped up and made some major changes in order to save her life
A woman took drastic action after being told she was too heavy to carry out a life-saving procedure for her mum. The family first became aware there was something seriously wrong with Sarah Scally when she lost five stone in 10 months, without dieting.
Her daughter Bethanie Thompson was then left “devastated” when she received a phone call telling her that her mum was in hospital – and was unlikely to make it. It turned out the 48-year-old’s kidneys were functioning at just 3% and were in renal failure.
Sarah desperately needed a transplant but finding a match was proving difficult, so Bethanie, 30, a stay-at-home mum, stepped up to donate one of hers.
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But there was a problem; she weighed 18 stone and was deemed “too heavy” to carry out the life-saving procedure. “If there was a chance I could save my mum’s life, then I would do anything,” Bethanie, who is a full-time carer for her son, from Derby, said.
“I got told via letter that I was ‘too big’ to get the surgery. I said ‘bollocks’ to them. I didn’t let it get to me and focused on the task at hand. I can change my weight, but my mum couldn’t change her life without me.”
The first sign that something wasn’t quite right was when Sarah said the smell of bacon made her feel “sick”. Weeks later, she began getting breathless while waking up the stairs. If she hadn’t been rushed to the hospital in 2021, it’s likely she would no longer be here.
The agonising wait lists and nightly dialysis treatments took a toll on the whole family – and despite her not wanting any of her kids to make the donation, she had little-to-no choice.
Bethanie soon signed up to Slimming World and joined the gym. When things got tough, she thought about her mum, and in less than a year she had lost four stone.
In December 2025, the transplant was carried out. And, afterwards, for the first time in four years, Sarah had colour in her cheeks and was able to start eating.
Bethanie, meanwhile, was determined to get back in the gym and lose more weight. Now, she’s hoping to drop a further three stone. “When I came into this journey, I didn’t realise what kidney disease was,” she said. “But I’ve seen first-hand what it does and how much it’s rapidly affected my mum.
“When I have down days, I think myself lucky. Life is too short; you never know what might hit you when waking up.
“It’s taught me to appreciate the little things before it’s too late. I take my health and well-being more seriously. Since the operation, I’ve gone sugar-free and I try to keep as active as I can. It’s truly opened my eyes.
“I’ve only ever been bothered about my mum; it didn’t matter what happened to me. But knowing I’ve saved her life, and that she’s going to have many happy years with me and her grandkids, I couldn’t be happier. And, in a way, I’ve saved my life, too.”
Sarah, a hospice worker, added: “Until I got better, I hadn’t realised just how ill I’d been. Bethanie has been selfless throughout and put her life on the line for me.
“I’m immensely proud of her. She’s my earth angel.”
