A woman claims to have undergone a complete "personality transplant" after receiving a new kidney.Cheryl Johnson, 37, says she has changed completely since receiving the organ in May. She believes that she must have picked up her new characteristics from the donor, a 59-year-old man who died from an aneurysm.Now, not only has her personality changed, the single mother also claims that her tastes in literature have taken a dramatic turn. Whereas she only used to read low-brow novels, Dostoevsky has become her author of choice since the transplant. Miss Johnson, from Penwortham, in Preston, Lancs, said: "You pick up your characteristics from your donor. My son said when I first had the transplant, I went stroppy and snappy - that wasn't me."I have always loved books but I've started to read classics like Jane Austen and Dostoevsky. I found myself reading Persuasion."The former Preston North End football steward's life has been turned round since her successful operation. After developing kidney problems in 1998, she had previously undergone every available form of dialysis as well as a failed transplant in 2001.Miss Johnson added: "It's given my 16-year-old boy his mum back."I totally respect the family who gave me this kidney. They have given me the best thing they can - a chance for a normal life. I am forever grateful to them."Academics in America have developed a theory called cellular memory phenomenon to explain the personality changes that are allegedly experienced by some transplant recipients.

Examples include a Massachusetts woman with vertigo who became a climber; a Milwaukee lawyer who began eating Snickers, having always hated chocolate; and a seven-year-old girl who had nightmares about being killed after being given the heart of a murdered child.However, the only case recognised by the scientific community is that of a 15-year-old Australian girl whose blood type changed following a liver transplant.UK Transplant also remains sceptical about the phenomenon.

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Hello eveyone. I would just like to say Hi and introduce myself as Dennis. It's funny because I just registered to this site and the first article I read is about a Kidney Tranplant and how the womans personality changed due to it. Well I have first hand proof of it as I had a Kidney Transplant back in March of 2007. It's so true, because ever since I've had my transplant I have craved Mexican food and Chocolate more then I have ever in my life. I even met another woman that has my same disease "IGA Nephropathy" as me and says the same thing as I mentioned in my last sentence. So I totally agree and believe that yes you do change a bit when you receive someone elses organ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you and I hope you find that informative.

Dennis

Hm... I'll wait until a lactose intolerant has a transplant and starts craving milk and butter. I'm not always... Yeah I'm just mean.

I'm a kidney transplant and I dont really seem to have any of those characteristics. But eversince the operation, I have become a much better person than what I used to be.

its called cellular memory all or cells have memories, they are programmed or something its weird google it and you will understand i guess

but yeah there are so many cases of people picking up traits of donours and such that there has to be something going on

I've also heard of many people who say the same thing, so if i ever need and get a transplant i hope it's from someone who's not a serial killer or anything nasty!