Two sisters who lost their mum to kidney failure both needed transplants to save their lives

Agnes McLellan, 68, and her sibling Jean, 65, lost their mum, Isobel, to kidney failure when she was only 47.

Renal dialysis was in its infancy at the time and treatment was tragically not available to Isobel.

With advances in medicine Agnes and her sister Jean were found to have inherited hereditary polycystic kidneys.

The condition causes deterioration until kidney failure eventually occurs.

Both were fortunate enough to receive transplants, with Jean given a kidney by her cousin Linda and Agnes receiving one from a donor, ending almost seven years of dialysis.

Ever since receiving her transplant Agnes has been fundraising for Kidney Research UK and raising awareness of the condition and the need for donors.

Agnes, of Larkfield, said: “I lost my kidney and my spleen and I really didn’t think I would make it.

“All I could do was try and stay healthy and monitor my blood pressure.

“Then the phone went in the middle of the night and I was told a match had become available from a donor. 

“Everyone was delighted but I tried not to got too excited because things could always go wrong.

“I was soon undergoing surgery and since then it has worked absolutely brilliantly.

“It doesn’t always work for everyone and I am so lucky.

“I am still here because someone chose to donate their organs and now I have the opportunity to give back and I will.”

Agnes wears her Kidney Research t-shirt with pride and does everything from volunteering at events to promoting donor cards and baking home-made tablet to sell.

She is currently preparing to help out at the Glasgow Bridges Walk on Sunday and has roped 12 of her family and friends - including grandchildren - into taking part.

Now in its fifth year, the walk sees fundraisers walk around seven miles taking in some of the city’s famous bridges and sites.

Agnes said: “We have around 400 people signed up at the moment in total. 

“My family have done it before although we missed last year.

“It’s a great day and as a family we are always looking for ways to fundraise, support others going through something similar and also say thank-you to the staff at the hospitals, the donors, the families and the charity who work to support people with kidney disease.”

Agnes’ Inverclyde contingent will include her niece, Sharon Proudfoot, who also has the disease and will need a transplant.

The family have managed to raise more than £500 between them ahead of this weekend’s walk.

Agnes said: “We lost our mother in the 60s when there was only one dialysis machine in Glasgow.

“Research has moved on so much.

“I was diagnosed and now have a new lease of life thanks to the treatment and the generosity of a donor.

“Money raised for Kidney Research goes towards finding ways to slow kidney failure, prolonging the function, and hopefully one day being able to stop it all together for future generations.

“We are hoping to raise as much as we can because we know it will be put to good use.”

To sponsor Agnes and her family on the walk visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sharon-proudfoot