Kidney op family recovering

Black Country father and son Stuart and Ben Whittall are recovering in hospital following a kidney transplant operation.

Ben's mum, Sarah, said both father and son were recovering well today.

Mr Whittall, aged 39, of Smethwick, had a kidney removed at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, and transplanted into 10-year-old Ben at Birmingham Children's Hospital.

Ben was in surgery for four hours yesterday while the transplant took place.

Sarah, aged 38, said: "Ben is doing well. It is early days yet, but the kidney from Stuart seems to have taken well and he has had a good 12 hours.

"Stuart is very sore, but otherwise OK and Ben is awake and has been asking about his dad.

"They haven't had chance to speak to each other yet, but I am hoping to get them on the phone later today," she added.

Until his operation, Ben had to undergo 10 hours of kidney dialysis, six nights a week, after being struck down with kidney disease in January 2008.

Bank manager Stuart, of Thimblemill Road, Smethwick, is expected to be released from hospital within a few days, although Ben is expected to remain at the Children's Hospital for several weeks.