A mother and father are giving their son and daughter the gift of normal life by each donating a kidney to them.

Peter Alvey, 29, and his sister Elizabeth Pearson, 22, require life-saving transplants after suffering years of kidney problems, but were warned that it could take years to find suitable donors¹.

To their amazement² however, their parents were both found to be perfect matches. Mary Alvey, 52, will donate to Peter, who undergoes dialysis at the hospital, Notts. Her husband, Des, 55, is giving a kidney to Elizabeth, who requires dialysis four times every day.

Mrs Alvey said: "In the end it was not a hard decision to make. They are our children, and if it means that we can help and offer them the chance of a more normal life then that is what we will do."

Peter and Elizabeth said: "We cannot thank my parents enough. We are so grateful to our parents."

A spokesman for the Kings Mill Kidney Patients' Association said: "It is a wonderful gesture by Des and Mary. We have known Peter and Elizabeth for a while and it is wonderful to think that they are getting the chance of leading a normal life."