How one woman has had a failed kidney transplant, lost a limb and is now STUCK in hospital as she has nowhere else to go - at the age of 32

Published: 19:27, 16 August 2026 | Updated: 19:28, 16 August 2026 A 32-year-old woman who has endured kidney failure, a failed transplant and the amputation of her right leg is now medically fit to leave hospital - but has nowhere to go.  Lauren Greaves, who has lived with Type 1 diabetes since she was ten, says her previous home is no longer accessible following the amputation, and she is waiting for suitable accommodation. An Occupational Therapist assessed her studio flat and found it unsuitable for wheelchair use, with the doorway too narrow for independent access and Lauren unable to reach the bathroom in her wheelchair. She would also have to rely on carers to use a commode inside her living space. Lauren's health problems began more than two decades ago after she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2004. She later developed diabulimia and gastroparesis before being diagnosed with end-stage kidney failure at age 24 and starting dialysis three times a week. She also suffered severe vision loss after blood vessels burst at the back of both eyes, requiring multiple procedures to save her sight. In 2022, Lauren received a kidney transplant, which she hoped would give her a fresh start. Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 10, Lauren Greaves (pictured) has faced severe complications over two decades, including diabulimia, gastroparesis, vision loss, kidney failure (requiring ongoing dialysis after a failed transplant), and Charcot foot An Occupational Therapist determined Lauren's existing studio flat is completely unsuitable for wheelchair access (narrow doorways, inaccessible bathroom/kitchen). Pictured is Lauren (R) with her sister Lakeisha (L) in the hospital But the transplant failed just over a year later, forcing her back onto dialysis while she waits for another donor. In May 2025, she developed Charcot foot, a serious complication of diabetic neuropathy which weakens and deforms the bones in the foot. Despite reconstructive surgery, Lauren suffered repeated infections. She said: 'I just kept having this infection. It would go away, come back, go away and come back.' At a follow-up appointment, her surgeon warned her that she was approaching the point where amputation would be necessary. Recalling the conversation, Lauren said: 'He said, 'You're now in amputation territory, and you should go home and speak to your friends and family about it.' She was admitted to hospital the following day after dialysis revealed high infection markers, and she underwent an MRI. She recalled: 'By that afternoon the surgeon came and said my foot needed to be amputated.' Lauren made a public appeal on TikTok in the hope that someone might offer another solution, but doctors determined the infection had gone too far. She explained: 'It was determined it had gone too far. The only way to get rid of the infection was to remove the source of infection.' Her right leg was amputated below the knee on March 20. Lauren says the emotional impact has been as difficult as the physical recovery. Describing the moment she learned she would lose her leg, she said: 'What was going through my mind was, how am I going to survive with one leg? What is life going to look like now?' She added: 'I was grieving. I'm still grieving.' She speaks openly about grieving the loss of her leg and missing her independence and dignity. Lauren is pictured walking with crutches on her prosthetic leg Following reconstructive foot surgery, recurring infections left surgeons with no choice but to perform a below-the-knee amputation on her right leg to prevent the infection from spreading further. Lauren pictured in a wheelchair Before the amputation, Lauren was already walking with crutches because of Charcot foot but remained independent. Looking back at her life before the operation, she said: 'I could still cook for myself. I could still go shopping sometimes. I still had my dignity.' She now uses a wheelchair while learning to walk again with a prosthetic leg and continues to attend dialysis three times a week alongside rehabilitation. On her progress, Lauren said: 'I'm just gaining confidence walking with the prosthetic and walking sticks.' But losing her independence has been one of the hardest parts of her recovery. 'The biggest thing I miss is being independent,' she said. 'Not having to depend on people all the time.' She says becoming a wheelchair user has also made her more aware of barriers faced by disabled people in everyday life. Lauren pointed to the difficulties she faces getting around, saying: 'The pavements aren't wheelchair friendly. If the pavement's too high, you have to find somewhere lower to cross.' She added: 'Not all shops have automatic doors. You end up waiting and hoping someone will help you.' Lauren is now waiting for accessible accommodation despite being physically well enough to leave hospital. Lauren attends dialysis three times a week alongside rehabilitation to learn how to walk. Lauren is pictured with two physios  Determined to rebuild her life, Lauren has launched a fundraiser to help secure an accessible home and specialist equipment. Lauren is pictured on a scooter with sunglasses after her right lower leg has been amputated She said: 'I'm physically fit to go home. I just don't have a suitable home to go to.' The council initially offered temporary accommodation but could not confirm where she would live or how long she would stay. Lauren also explored private housing, but said problems with her guarantor have made that difficult. Explaining the situation, she said: 'Right now I'm waiting for the woman who's taking my case and the council to come back to work so we can move forward.' She does not want to rely on carers for tasks she can manage herself if she has suitable space. 'I wasn't willing to schedule my life around carers,' Lauren said. 'I can do everything for myself as long as I have the space.' Lauren hopes her experience will highlight the wider barriers faced by disabled people. Speaking about how she wants society to view disability, she said: 'We're humans. Whether I'm in a wheelchair or not, I'm still a human being. We deserve to be treated as humans and not as a burden.' She has launched a GoFundMe, organised by her sister Lakeisha, to help with the costs of accessible housing, rehabilitation, and specialist equipment. Lauren explained: 'The funds are mainly for housing. It will also help me rebuild my life.' She hopes eventually to return to working with vulnerable children and young people. Looking ahead, Lauren said: 'I want to live in a comfortable home. I want to walk confidently with my prosthetic leg. I want to live independently. I just want to be happy.'