AN Oakenshaw man who has donated a kidney to his sick mother has spoken of the joy he feels over his life-changing decision.

When 38-year-old Paul Godwin's mother, Janet Mitchell, 60, gave birth to his sister, her kidney began to deteriorate.

In recent years, the problem got worse and she reached a stage where she was having to travel to Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital for dialysis three times a week.

Mr Godwin and his father were approached by doctors and asked if they would be tested to see if they were a match. Paul was.

He said: "I was scared. I wanted to do it because my mum's quality of life was getting worse every week but I was just frightened because I didn't know what it would mean for me.

"I started to bottle things up and didn't want to burden my wife, Elizabeth, as she has our two little children to look after.

"But I was offered counselling and accepted. I was advised to speak to Elizabeth about how I was feeling so I did. She was an absolute rock and helped me get through."

Mr Godwin was admitted for the operation on September 22 and is now recovering at home.

He said: "I can't return to work for another three months and I have to take things easy but apart from that, I'm fine.

"My mum has to go for regular tests at the hospital but she's doing really well.

"People faced with donating an organ are quite understandably terrified by the prospect but my mum and I are proof that this is a wonderful thing. We've come out the other side and we're both well.

"I'm overjoyed I could do something for my mum to increase her quality of life."