Doctors got a shock when a woman who came into hospital with a suspected water infection turned out to have four kidneys.
Student Jessica Curphey was taken to the closure-threatened A&E department at St Helier Hospital with excruciating pains in her right side which she thought was down to a water infection.
Initial scans suggested the 20-year-old, originally from Manchester but studying at the University of Creative Arts in Epsom, has a large cyst on her kidney.
The cyst had burst but further investigation revealed it was actually one of two extra kidneys meaning she had three of the organs on one side and one on the other.
Doctors at St George's Hospital in Tooting removed the damaged kidney, which was swollen with almost two litres of fluid, leaving her with a still-impressive tally of three kidneys.
Miss Curphey said: "At first I didn't know how to feel because I had been told so many things. Now it's quite fun watching how people react when you tell them that you’ve got an extra kidney.
Miss Curphey in hospital
"I suppose it's weird not knowing what's going on inside your body until something happens like with me.
"On the upside of the whole thing I don't get as bad hangovers like my friends, which is perhaps down to my extra kidneys. Overall I have come out of this as a stronger person.
"It was a difficult experience but I was looked after and I’ve come through it the other end and looking forward to the future."
The scar left by Miss Curphey's operation
It is very rare for anyone to be born with four kidneys, fewer than 100 cases have been recorded.
Miss Curphey is now trying to raise funds and awareness for the charity Kidney Research UK.
Kidney Research UK spokesman Professor Neil Turner said: "Development of the kidneys is pretty complex and there are all kinds of varieties - alternatives to the usual two include that you can develop just one on one side, or have a 'horseshoe' kidney which is two fused together across the middle.
"Doubling of the kidneys on each side can happen, and partial doubling is quite common, while complete doubling to form completely separate kidneys is rare. Many people have these variations without knowing about it, and it doesn't usually affect kidney function for better or worse."
To donate to Miss Curphey's fundraising efforts visit: kidneyresearchukevents.org/jesscurphey.
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