Emma Maletroit, who has tuberous sclerosis – a rare genetic condition that causes benign tumours to grow on the body’s major organs – also hopes to see one of her great-nieces, who she has never met.
So now one of her oldest childhood friends is hoping to raise money for the 48-year-old’s trip, as well as to highlight the importance of organ donation.
When Mrs Maletroit was diagnosed with kidney failure in 2015 her mother, Carol, said that she would be a live donor for her daughter.
However, on the day that the pair were due to fly to the UK for the transplant she fell ill, and just a few months later died of pancreatic cancer.
Then in 2016, Mrs Maletroit – who requires dialysis three times a week – was diagnosed with lymphoma and is now unable to receive a transplant until she has been cancer-free for four years.
Mrs Maletroit said: ‘My mum’s wish for me was that I would move to New Zealand and live closer to my sister. She was crying when she was ill because she wanted to give me her kidney and for me to get better.
‘Every night I go to bed thinking, “Am I going to get a call to say I have a donor?” ’
Mrs Maletroit’s younger sister, Tina, who lives in New Zealand, set up an online fundraising page for her ‘inspirational’ sister. Funds are being raised for the flight, travel insurance and dialysis in New Zealand – which costs on average £250 per day.
‘I went to New Zealand in 2008 and to be able to go again would be fantastic,’ Mrs Maletroit said. ‘I have two great-nieces and I have never met one of them.
‘I’m quite a positive person and try not to let everything get me down.
‘I just focus and don’t moan about my illnesses. I was born with an illness, so I have dealt with it right through my life.’
To date just over NZ$1,000 has been raised and Mrs Maletroit’s childhood friend, Emma French, is hoping to help raise more funds for the trip. She also wants to raise awareness about organ donation. According to most recent figures, just 11,685 Islanders were on the organ donor register.
‘I have always felt a bit uncomfortable about being an organ donor until this all happened to Emma,’ said Mrs French, who has known Mrs Maletroit since she was nine.
‘Just knowing Emma’s story and knowing how long it can take to get an organ made me register last year.
‘Even if Emma didn’t have lymphoma she would still be waiting two years for the transplant. If there were more people on the organ donor list then more people would be able to have transplants a lot quicker.’
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