A woman has revealed how what she thought were the symptoms of hay fever turned out to be a life-threatening condition.
Ellen Swarbrick, from Wilmslow, Cheshire, had started to experience waking up with a ‘puffy’ face in spring 2022, but had always assumed it was just the result of hay fever.
Two years later, she was shocked to discover she needed an immediate kidney transplant to save her life.
The 28-year-old first moved to London in September 2023 to begin a solicitor training course. It was then that she started taking up to two antihistamines a day to try to reduce her facial swelling.
During this period, Ellen also began to struggle with her energy levels, often finding herself barely able to get out of bed when her alarm went off.
But having only recently started a new job, she put her tiredness down to being ‘lazy’.
Then, during a work trip in July 2024, Ellen noticed that her ankles had also swollen up. But once again, she assumed nothing was wrong and that it was merely the result of it having been a hot day.
Looking back, she also recalled experiencing terrible hangovers and having to go to the toilet more often than usual during that time.
Ellen Swarbrick, from Wilmslow, Cheshire, started waking up with a ‘puffy’ face in spring 2022, but had always assumed it was just the result of hay fever
When she came back to the office after the trip, her symptoms only got worse and she began experiencing flu-like symptoms and blurred vision.
None the wiser to what was really going on, she initially did nothing in the hopes that things would improve on their own.
When her symptoms did not improve, she called 111 and was sent to the eye department at St Thomas’ Hospital, London.
There, doctors found high blood pressure was the cause, and after a short hospital stay, she was moved to the renal ward at Guy’s Hospital, London.
Following a biopsy, Ellen was diagnosed with stage four chronic kidney disease.
Just after Christmas 2024, her routine blood test showed the disease had unfortunately progressed to stage five, and she was told that she would need a transplant.
Luckily, Ellen said her mother, Kathryn Patrick, 57, was an 80 per cent match, and she was able to give her daughter a kidney in May 2025.
She said her mother completely changed her life, and gets emotional and cries every time she sees her.
Luckily Ellen said her mother, Kathryn Patrick, 57, was an 80 per cent match and she was able to give her daughter a kidney in May 2025
Now Ellen is sharing her story to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of kidney disease.
‘I was working really hard, feeling more and more tired. The puffiness had continued and was probably getting a lot worse. Because it was summer at the time, I thought it was hay fever.
‘It used to go down by the evening, which made me feel like the antihistamines were working.
‘In reality, it was just when I was sleeping flat that the fluid retention would pile up in my face. Then, when I stood up, it would move down my body and spread out.
‘I was working quite hard. I remember feeling like I was finding it a lot more difficult than everyone else and I didn’t really understand why.
‘I was tired, but because I’d started this new job, I put it down to that – when in reality this level of tiredness I was feeling was really not normal.
‘I would set my alarm before work to go to the gym and I would never be able to get up.
‘I thought I was being lazy or something, but it was that level of fatigue where I literally would not be able to get myself up before I needed to.’
She will need another kidney transplant during her lifetime but her most recent test results showed her kidney function was in the normal range again
‘I would have really bad hangovers. It wouldn’t even be when I went out for a big night out.
‘I would literally go out for a couple of glasses of wine with a friend or my boyfriend, and I would be throwing up the next day.’
Ellen said doctors told her the cause of her kidney disease was an autoimmune condition called IgA nephropathy.
However, she said her mother was adamant that she would be a match and was determined to be the donor.
‘It’s so emotional. Every time I see my mum or speak to her I just start crying. She’s completely changed my life. I just have a lot more hope for the future.
‘I didn’t want to ask [people to donate] and I didn’t want anyone to feel pressured in any way.
‘My mum was so determined. She knew it was going to be her.
‘Before she even got the blood test she was telling the nurse on the phone, ‘it would be better to do me because I’m older so you don’t have to put any of the young ones through it.’
‘The nurse was like, “well, you have to make sure you’re a match first”. She was like, “I will be a match, I will be a match”.
‘They rang my mum and my mum told me that she was an 80 per cent match, which is incredible.’
Ellen said doctors told her the cause of her kidney disease was an autoimmune condition called IgA nephropathy
She will need another kidney transplant during her lifetime, but her most recent test results showed her kidney function was in the normal range again.
Ellen said: ‘I think I was 27 when I was diagnosed, and you just don’t think anything like that will ever happen to you.
‘You’re just so oblivious to it. I didn’t consider that I might have anything like that.
‘I think it hit me maybe a week later and then I felt like, “why me? This is so unfair. I’m living in London, I’ve started this new job that I really love”.
‘I was so confused how I could have this seriously life-threatening illness and not know about it.
‘It was just bonkers to me, and it took me ages to get my head around. As soon as I woke up from the transplant, I felt different.
‘I knew I was tired, but I don’t think I realised the level of fatigue I had until I woke up from that transplant. My quality of life has improved so much. It’s immeasurably better.’
Kathryn was ‘relieved’ she was a match and says that since the diagnosis, the whole thing has been an ’emotional journey’.
Kathryn said: ‘We’re very lucky that I’ve been able to give her one of my kidneys. I felt like it was something I had to do really.
‘When we found out I was the best match, I felt incredible relief. It feels like a very special gift and it has been amazing.
‘For her to be able to do more normal things again and to be able to be looking forward to the future, it’s been really wonderful. I feel very happy and relieved and pleased. The emotions are still very overwhelming.’
