A COURAGEOUS mum whose life was saved by a kidney transplant is backing a global campaign aimed at raising awareness of the importance of kidneys.

Leeanne Harrison of Methil Road in Port Glasgow was expecting daughter Sarah, now aged 17, when doctors discovered a potentially fatal problem.

Doctors found that Leeanne’s kidneys were shrivelled up and had cysts on them.

The brave 37-year-old endured eight years of gruelling dialysis before she finally received a transplant.

Today Leeanne says she has her life back on track - and is urging people to support World Kidney Day tomorrow.

She told the Tele: "Not many people know about kidney disease - a lot of people don't know they've got it as you don't get a lot of symptoms.

"People don't realise how important your kidneys are and how we wouldn't be alive without them.

"I would not be where I am today if it was not for my kidney transplant."

During her eight years on dialysis, Leeanne said that every time the phone rang she hoped it was the call to say she would be given a new organ.

Her prayers were finally answered in 2014.

She added: "It's hard to explain how my life completely changed after the transplant.

"When I was on dialysis I had no energy and I just felt unwell all of the time - I was unwell for eight years.

"But my daughter Sarah kept me going.

"Also, if it was not for dialysis I would never have got into art.

"During dialysis we did art therapy which helped me as I enjoy drawing."

Leeanne said that as well as the physical impact on her health, dialysis also massively restricted her day-to-day life.

She said: "I found that I missed out on a lot of things.

"When I was on dialysis I was unable to visit my sister in London because I was too poorly.

"But thanks to the transplant I can visit my sister and I can also go on holiday with Sarah.

"Sarah plays the piano but I used to miss her concerts because I was too poorly but now I can manage along, which is amazing."

Leeann says her experience has made her appreciate life.

She added: "It definitely does change your perspective.

"It makes you appreciate the little things in life.

"You don't know what you've got until you've not got it."

Although Leeanne still has to take 20 different tablets a day following her transplant, she says life has never been better and is keen to raise awareness of World Kidney Day.

She added: "I don't think people realise that it's easy to take care of your kidneys by drinking more water and by keeping healthy and exercising."

According to the latest statistics, one million people in the UK don't know they have kidney disease.

Symptoms at a more advanced stage include tiredness, swollen ankles, feet or hands, shortness of breath, feeling sick and blood in urine.

World Kidney Day on Thursday aims to raise awareness of the importance of kidneys to our overall health and to reduce disease.