PROUD grandmother Doreen Lewis is full of joy as she talks of her granddaughter she might never have seen - 28 years after a life-saving kidney transplant operation

The 62-year-old, from Worcester Road, Martley, was diagnosed as having a problem with her kidneys when she was only six.

Her condition got worse until she had to go on to dialysis in her late 20s, which left her constantly tired and restricted her movement.

She was so ill she could not work, but a ray of light came when she was told she had a donor for a kidney transplant and underwent an operation in August 1977.

Without her new kidneys she almost certainly would have died within months as her health had deteriorated so much.

But, after the operation, she was determined to make the most of her new lease of life, learning to drive and swim and returning to work at Kidderminster Health Centre.

She also realised some of her other ambitions - taking to the skies in a hot-air balloon over the Malvern Hills, going on a Mediterranean cruise and entering the transplant games in Edinburgh in 1981, where she won a silver medal in the 100-metre race.

And she also watched her 36-year-old-son Darren grow up, get married and have a daughter, Katy, now seven.

Now, 28 years on, she is set to celebrate in style in London on Saturday, September 10, joining more than 150 fellow UK kidney transplantees at a gala dinner.

She added: "When I was on dialysis it was very hard - I was looking at my four-year-old son and thinking to myself I'm never going to see him grow up, but I did and now he's married and I've got a beautiful grand-daughter.

"I can't believe I've been so lucky - these have been bonus years. I just thought I've

been given this chance and I'm not going to waste it."

The dinner, the brainchild of leading transplant surgeon Ali Bakran, is to celebrate the success of the transplant patients and the additional years they have enjoyed.

Mrs Lewis said: "Just to say thank you to my donor is not enough - you say thank you to someone who opens a door for you; when they open the door of life is something else."

Anyone who wants to become an organ donor should call 0845 606 0400 or register at www.uktransplant.org.uk.