‘A kidney transplant and my horse Dolly saved my life’

This Kilkenny woman was shocked to find her kidneys were failing her at the age of just 18 – but help was at hand

Sara Santi pictured with her horse Dolly in Thomastown County Kilkenny. Photos: Dylan Vaughan.

Azmia Riaz

Sara Santi believes two things saved her life last year: the kindness of her kidney donor, and her horse Dolly.

The Italian-born Kilkenny woman was enjoying one of the happiest periods of her life — she was about to move to the Netherlands for a dream job in the equestrian industry — when the problem first seriously reared its head.