A Lancaster teenager who won a legal battle for a kidney transplant has had the operation which his mum described as "the gift of life".
William Verden had the transplant after an organ match was found.
William, who has severe learning difficulties, was only able to have the surgery after a court ruled in his favour in March.
A hospital trust had argued that the transplant would not be in the 17-year-old's best interests due to "a range of complex issues".
William's mum Ami Mclennan, posting on the 'Team William' Facebook page, announced that a donor had been found and the transplant had taken place.
She said the operation went "beautifully" and asked for prayers for William as "the next few days are critical".
Ami posted photos of William following the operation on the Team William Facebook page
Ami said: "I got a really unexpected phone call...the hospital have found an AAA match for William's kidney transplant.
"The transplant has unfortunately come from a deceased donor and while we are devastated it’s such sad circumstances, we are also so incredibly grateful that this could be the start of a new forever for our beautiful boy.
"This has given him the chance I’ve always wanted since I found out how poorly he was. A chance that I couldn’t give him myself and also a day I didn’t think would ever come.
"I will never be able to repay this person for this chance for my William. Today is a very mixed feeling of happy and sad. It’s totally the gift of life but in order for this to happen for my darling boy it brings me great sadness that there is a family out there that’s had the worst possible news. News that I’m also dreading and have been for a long time.
"This could be the beginning of a whole new chapter for Willow and I just hope and pray everything goes well.
"But it’s such a mix of emotions, I honestly feel like my heart's going to break leaving my baby boy on that table knowing what he’s got to go through and also knowing it still could possibly fail.
"But we will cross that bridge if we come to it and I'll be by his side holding his hand. I’m praying so hard that he comes through because he’s my strong beautiful braveheart.
"He will spend the next few weeks in paediatric intensive care where all we can do is hope and pray that his body accepts his new kidney and his FSGS doesn’t return. My heart hurts. I literally can’t stop crying.
"This is obviously a really hard time for us but especially difficult for William with everything he already had going on. It will be so much for him to get used to because there was no time for preparation but I’m sure he will manage it like he manages everything else and hopefully in time he will process what he’s been through and if it works he will be able to enjoy a full glass of pop which will absolutely make his year!
"Please pray for my baby boy the next few days are critical."
Ami is pictured below with William.
Ami later posted: "My darling boy is out of theatre!!!
"The operation went beautifully, the surgeon was amazing and brought my boy back to me.
"The bravest kindest most precious boy EVER. I’m the proudest mama in the whole world.
"Just this next hurdle to get over my boy, we’ve got this."
William was found to be suffering from a rare kidney disease in 2019.
Doctors discovered he had 40 per cent kidney function - which later reduced to 5 per cent - and FSGS, a rare disease that attacks the kidneys and can cause kidney failure.
William then began home dialysis and treatment at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital.
The trust said that due to his learning difficulties, a transplant carried "significant risks and the possibility that his transplant would fail".
William and his family then made a legal challenge and a judge in the Court of Protection ruled in March that the operation could go ahead.
Ms Toli Onon, Joint Group Medical Director for Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust said at the time: “We welcome the clarity which this decision brings for William, his family and our clinicians.
‘’The Trust asked the Court of Protection to make today’s judgment because of how unusual, complex and risky the situation is.
‘’William has a rare condition affecting his kidneys, and each treatment option had its own risks to his health and wellbeing.
‘’That’s why we asked the Court to make this difficult decision, and why the judge noted that she respected our approach to establishing what’s best for William.
‘’William, his family and our staff have all worked really hard together to support his dialysis; and we will now be liaising with William and his family regarding how best to progress his treatment.”
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