A BRAVE Malvern husband is about to make the sacrifice of a lifetime to free his wife from dependency on dialysis to stay alive.

Christopher Osborne is due to undergo a major operation to remove one of his kidneys at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham today (Friday).

It will immediately be transplanted into his wife, Trudie, who has suffered from kidney infections since she was young.

If successful, the operation will allow Trudie, 36, to lead a normal life free of the dialysis machine to which she spends eight and a half hours connected every night.

Her illness, which stems from an infection she fell victim to just after she was born, has prevented her from enjoying foreign holidays or eating whatever she likes. It also means she must undergo regular hospital trips, tiredness and pain.

The Wedderburn Road couple, who have been married for 15 years, say if the operation is a success they plan to take their two children on a dream trip to Disneyland.

Mr Osborne dismissed the idea that he is doing anything special. "I'd like to think that everyone would do it for their family," he said.

However, the 43-year-old admits to feeling nervous before the four-hour operation, which will mean a five-day recovery period in hospital.

Mrs Osborne also said she was slightly worried about an operation which will take two to three hours. There is no guarantee her body will not reject the kidney.