A woman has donated a kidney to save the life of her husband after they were found to be a 22 MILLION-to-one match. <br /><br />Donna Creed, 49, gave seriously-ill partner Darren, 51, "the greatest gift" after he spent more than a decade suffering with polycystic kidney disease.<br /><br />The couple proved they are the perfect match after Darren was told last August he was unlikely to survive unless he underwent the life-saving operation<br /><br />Friends and family all volunteered to step forward but the pair were left stunned when selfless Donna -who was first to be tested- turned out to be a suitable donor.<br /><br />Dad-of-two Darren says they were told the odds of a spouse being a match were a staggering one in 22 million and they had more chance of winning the lottery. <br /><br />The couple, who have been together 33 years, are how recovering after undergoing the transplant last month but said it had already transformed their lives.<br /><br />Darren, of Leicester, said: "I can't put into words how thankful I am, it is the best gift she could ever give me. She's given me the gift of life. <br /><br />"To hear the odds were 22 million to one was just staggering - there's more chance of us winning the lottery."<br /><br />Darren was diagnosed with the renal condition 12 years ago until his kidney function fell to just 19 per cent last year, leaving him with severe exhaustion. <br /><br />The chef lecturer at Loughborough College was told he would potentially face long-term dialysis unless a donor could be found for a transplant operation. <br /><br />Darren added: "It all started about 12 years ago, when we had a personal trainer come in through work which I signed up for.<br /><br />"But when they did tests to check if you can be part of the programme they found my blood pressure was high so I went to my GP for further checks.<br /><br />"They called me back for the test results on the day we were going away on holiday and they told me I had polycystic kidney disease.<br /><br />"The bags were literally packed so we went away for the weekend and it was only when we researched it we thought 'Jesus, this is quite serious'.<br /><br />"I was put on a drug which slowed down the progress of the disease and probably gave me an extra three or four years.<br /><br />"But in August last year my liver function dropped to below 19 per cent and it was then they said I would need a donor.<br /><br />"I wasn't too hopeful as the oods were so long. We went away and asked family and friends and lots of people volunteered to be tested.<br /><br />"But the first person who was tested was Donna and incredibly it was first time lucky as she turned out to be a match. <br /><br />"However on the day I was due to have the transplant in June my blood pressure rocketed again and I had to have dialysis for the first time.<br /><br />"Up until then I had only suffered with severe exhaustion and I was hoping to avoid it, but it was necessary to get me ready for this transplant.<br /><br />"We then had the operation last month and even as I woke up from the operation the kidney was already working. It's incredible really. <br /><br />"I'm still recovering but I can already feel the difference. Before we couldn't socialise as much as I was always so tired, I had to watch what I ate.<br /><br />"But it has not only transformed the life of myself, it has transformed the entire family and we can now enjoy doing more things together. <br /><br />"I can't say thanks enough to Donna, she has saved my life."<br /><br />Donna a hotel manager, said the organ transplant, which was carried out at at Leicester's Glenfield Hospital, was "the greatest gift" she could give to a loved one.<br /><br />She said: "We genuinely didn't think I was going to be a match because the chances are so slim but every test we had came back looking like it was matching.<br /><br />"We couldn't believe it.<br /><br />"Darren woke up from the transplant a new person.<br /><br />"He was so well. It was like getting my husband back from 25 years ago. He was laughing and joking where he had been so tired before.<br /><br />"His condition was having a real impact, we couldn't do any thing like socialise. Even holding a conversation was a challenge.<br /><br />"Now the difference is incredible."<br /><br />Urging others to consider organ donation, she added: "It is great to be able to do this for your husband, a member of your family or even total stranger.<br /><br />""It's such a gift to give for just a week of discomfort."<br /><br />The University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust's transplant lead specialist nurse Charlotte Crotty said: "Its fantastic that Donna and Darren were a match.<br /><br />"She has given him an amazing gift and you can see it has transformed their lives and the lives of their whole family."
