Two sisters have celebrated the 10th anniversary of an incredible gift of life.
A decade ago Balloch mum Susan Taylor donated her kidney to her seriously ill sister Anne Kelly after turning out to be a perfect match for the transplant.
Anne was born with only one functioning kidney and her parents were given the devastating news that she would only live for six months.
But incredibly she defied doctors by going on to be a mum-of-three and full-time nurse.
However, her health took a turn for the worse 16 years ago when she suffered a brain aneurysm and then a stroke.
Younger sister Susan, 52, a carer with West Dunbartonshire Council, said: “It was very sudden.
“She had a few headaches and one day was particularly bad and she ended up coming home.
“By chance her daughter Amanda was coming home from school and found her mum having a fit.
“She phoned her granny and papa and Anne was rushed to hospital.
“She struggled to walk after the stroke but said she wasn’t coming home in a wheelchair and, to her credit, she didn’t.”
Anne’s strength was tested again six years later when she was diagnosed with kidney failure.
She was placed on dialysis three times a week and was desperate to live a normal life again.
Mum-of-one Susan added: “She was really down and had had enough of being on dialysis.
“She was told her kidney would keep deteriorating so I decided I wanted to help.”
The sisters were a perfect match and shortly afterwards they were in side-by-side operating rooms at the Western Infirmary, where a kidney was removed from Susan and placed in Anne, who lives in Balfron and is also a carer with the council.
Susan said: “We could have waited an extra few months to get keyhole surgery but by that time we just wanted to get it done.
“Staff were brilliant. I remember the first thing I did after the operation was ask after my sister. They said everything had gone well.
“Kidneys can last anywhere from five to 15 or 20 years so we don’t know how long it will be until she needs another transplant.
“It really highlights how important transplants are and the fact that anyone can be a living donor.”
The sisters marked the extraordinary milestone with a special family meal at the Balcony Bar and Grill at Loch Lomond Shores on Sunday.
They even had a cake, celebrating the 10th year of Sidney, the affectionate name they have given to their shared kidney.
Susan said: “My sister is an inspiration and we are all proud of her.
“She has been through so much and is such a strong person.
“When we found out she needed a donor I put myself forward straight away and didn’t think twice about it.
“It was a traumatic experience but I don’t regret it one bit.
“Since it’s been 10 years, we thought we’d celebrate the milestone as it’s meant so much to us all.”
