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Andrew was given a shock diagnosis of Vasculitis in January 2016. The diagnosis followed weeks of Andrew feeling under the weather, which led to blood tests on a Friday and an urgent phone call on the following Monday to say Andrew's kidney function had dropped to 40%.

An urgent appointment was secured at James Cook Hospital and blood tests at 2pm led to a call at 5pm to say Andrew's kidney function had now dropped to 20% and he needed to be admitted to hospital.

Andrew immediately started six months of intensive treatment including drugs, steroids and low grade chemotherapy. Clinicians performed a biopsy and at the end of the six months Andrew was given the news his kidneys were damaged beyond repair and he would need a kidney transplant sometime in the future.

In May 2017 Andrew was told by his consultant that he now needed to have a transplant and the preferred option was a Living Kidney Transplant.

I was tested to see if I was a match and luckily was so the process began. I went through 6 months of various blood tests, x-rays and scans to prepare for transplant, I also had to lose three and a half stone to be accepted for surgery. The plan originally was to go straight to transplant without the need for Andrew to have to have dialysis but unfortunately he took a turn for the worse and his kidney function dropped and he ended up having 12 weeks of dialysis whilst we were waiting for a date for surgery.

Finally on 21 March 2018 we had the transplant at Freeman Hospital in Newcastle. I went down to theatre at 8.30am to have Kevin the Kidney (as he is now known) removed and taken into the adjoining theatre where Andrew was waiting for Kevin. I was taken back to the general ward whilst Andrew returned to Ward 38 the Transplant Ward. Later that night the Transplant Nurse came and wheeled me over to see Andrew and straight away I could see the colour was back in his face and could see an instant improvement and that made it all worthwhile.

Since the transplant we both joined Newcastle Adults Transplant Team and have been to the British Transplant Games four times and last year were selected to be part of Team GB at the World Transplant Games in Dresden, Germany.

Kidney Care UK have been kind enough to sponsor the NATT team each year to help with costs of kit and competing at the games so this is our way of giving a bit back.

We are doing lots of different events during the year but I have always wanted to do a skydive so this seemed like the perfect time. Hopefully I will jump on Thursday 20 August - weather permitting. Any donations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Chris #Living Donors make miracles happen.