Young mum walks across Liverpool’s bridges for charity after devastating kidney disease and baby loss
A mother from Liverpool is participating in a major fundraising walk in September to fund kidney research, having lost three babies during pregnancy because of her own kidney disease.
Kelly Ashcroft, 32, has been affected by kidney problems since she was just two years old and has been diagnosed with two types of kidney disease - haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) and IgA nephropathy.
In 2015, she became pregnant with twins. However, due to the strain being put on her body as her kidney function declined, they heartbreakingly died.
Two years later, supported by her renal doctor, Kelly gave birth to a healthy boy named Alfie. However, after falling pregnant again later that year, she was urged to have a medical termination due to the risk to her and her baby by the continuing deterioration of her kidneys.
Spurred on by her own heartbreak, Kelly is determined to fund research to make a difference for others and has signed up with her dad, Colin, to join hundreds of supporters at the Kidney Research UK Liverpool Bridges Walk on Sunday 6 September.
Kelly says: “It’s important to me to raise awareness of the difficulties kidney patients can face when having children. Living with kidney disease shouldn’t steal somebody’s opportunity to become a parent or enjoy their lives.
“I have benefited from treatments, including transplantation, that would not exist without research. It’s not an exaggeration to say that without past research, I wouldn’t be here today. My big hope is that if we keep going, one day a cure for kidney disease can be found, meaning people have less limitations placed on their lives.”
Losing my twins
Kelly’s kidney problems began at just two years old, when she had an infection with a bacteria called E. coli. Her kidneys shut down for four weeks due to haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), leaving her needing dialysis until her kidneys began to work again. Sadly, they only returned to 75% function.
Kelly says: “My kidneys were monitored by Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, but they steadily declined throughout my childhood. At 18, it was discovered that I had a second kidney disease called IgA nephropathy. Both diseases were contributing to my kidneys failing and doctors began to discuss the need for a transplant. That brought home how serious everything was.
“My kidney function had fallen to 35% by the time I was pregnant with my twins, when I was 21 years old. After becoming pregnant, I was told that having two children could put too much pressure on my body, and, at 12 weeks, I was given the option to end one of the pregnancies to continue with the other. I burst into tears; I couldn’t give up on my children. Miracles can happen where children survive against the odds, but sadly that didn’t happen for us.
“In the end, my pregnancy took too big a toll on my kidneys. At 19 weeks, my blood pressure became really high, and I was taken into hospital where I was told that one of my babies had died. Only a week later, my blood pressure dropped, and I found out that my other child had also died. It was incredibly painful.
“If I hadn’t picked myself up, I would have spent the rest of my life crying. I took time off work, the women’s hospital in Liverpool gave me bereavement support, my family rallied around me, and we had a funeral for our twins, which helped us find some closure. Nothing could take away the pain though. I felt like I could draw a circle on my stomach and there was a big physical hole.”
Giving birth to Alfie
The next year, Kelly became pregnant with Alfie. Having a one-child-pregnancy put less pressure on Kelly’s kidneys, and she gave birth in February 2017.
Kelly says: “I couldn’t live without trying again to have a baby. It was scary, but I had to try. I worked closely with my doctor to manage my pregnancy, and they kept a close eye on me. Thankfully, I became a mother to a healthy, happy, little boy. Every day I was scared I'd lose him, as with my first pregnancy, but it was worth the fear of those months to have Alfie.
“It’s important not to be naive to the fact that kidney disease can make having a child more difficult. However, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be a parent, and it is important to find solutions with your doctor to have a successful pregnancy, if it is possible.”
More heartbreak
Despite using birth control, in the summer of 2017, Kelly found out she was expecting another baby. Kelly’s kidneys had fallen to 25% function following Alfie’s birth, and doctors advised her that continuing with this pregnancy would quickly push her into kidney failure.
Kelly says: “I was told it was very unlikely that my pregnancy would continue after my kidneys failed. The doctors said that even if my baby was born, it was likely they would have significant health problems and a poor quality of life. I felt I had no choice but to have a medical termination.
“That was heartbreaking. I felt a lot of guilt, but I had to make sure I didn’t put my life at risk when I had Alfie to think about too.”
Receiving a kidney transplant
Kelly’s kidney function continued to deteriorate, and she was put on the transplant list in 2021. By the time she received her transplant from a deceased donor in June 2024, Kelly’s kidneys were functioning at just 9%.
Kelly says: “It was hard waiting for a transplant, seeing my kidney function getting worse and falling into single digits. I was worried I wouldn’t get the phone call in time before my kidneys failed and I’d need dialysis. I was so scared about what that would mean for me and Alfie.
“I had the transplant just in time, and I’ll be forever grateful to my donor and their family. I didn’t realise how much my kidney disease was affecting my energy levels. I thought everyone was as exhausted as me after work, but I have so much more energy now. I’m able to do lots more with Alfie, like going swimming after work, and it feels like there are more hours in the day.
“Kidney disease is a lifelong illness which makes becoming and navigating being a parent more challenging. I am very conscious of the risk of transplant rejection, and what that would mean for me and Alfie. We're staying positive though, and taking life as it comes.”
Pregnancy and kidney disease
Kelly’s experiences highlight how difficult pregnancy can be for some people with kidney disease.
It is really important to talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or are looking to become pregnant whilst living with kidney disease. They will be able to advise you on important considerations such as medications you are taking and what you can do to prepare for possible risks for you and your baby.
Whilst it can be challenging to start a family, the right information and support can help you.
You can find additional information about pregnancy and kidney disease on the National Kidney Foundation website: Pregnancy and Kidney Disease | National Kidney Foundation
For support with baby loss and grief, please visit: Information on Baby Loss and Support | Sands – Baby Loss Charity
Liverpool Bridges Walk
Whether you’re walking in memory of a loved one, celebrating a kidneyversary or supporting someone living with kidney disease, there is still time to join #TeamKidney at this year’s Liverpool Bridges Walk on Sunday 6 September.
Kelly says: “I’m looking forward to walking alongside other people with a common goal to raise funds for Kidney Research UK. To be able to do it in my hometown with my dad is a bonus.”
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