A KIND Charford husband has been left "amazed" and "overjoyed" following the success of the operation to donate a kidney to his wife.

Tony Kershaw, from Austin Road, donated one of his kidneys and gave the gift of life to wife Julie at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, in Birmingham, on Monday June 13.

Mum of three Julie had suffered complete kidney failure for four years and had to undergo treatment at a dialysing unit in Kidderminster three times a week.

However, the couple were offered hope following news they could undergo a rare transplant operation because they had the exact same blood grouping and a 100 per cent tissue type match, as first reported in the Advertiser/Messenger.

The operation was put back from May 27 but finally went ahead on June 13. Surgeons used keyhole surgery to remove Tony's kidney and transplant it successfully.

Tony said: "It is amazing, the operation has been a success and had an immediate effect. It really has changed her life."

He was in hospital for three days and said that even though he still aches and was in some pain it was well worth it because of the effect it has had on Julie, who had to be in hospital for ten days.

"She has been shopping in the High Street which she has not done for three years. She no longer needs dialysis and can do anything she wants. I am amazed and we are both overjoyed at how things have turned out.

"I would think about it a little more now knowing what it involves but I would make the same decision. We can now get on with our lives together."

For further information on becoming an organ donor telephone the NHS Organ Donor Line on 0845 60 60 400.