My wife’s my hero

STepHen Heavyside, 61, and wife patricia, 62, from Barrow, Cumbria have been married for 40 years.

Stephen said: ‘I was diagnosed with adult polycystic kidney disease at 17. It killed my mum and grandmother. Five years ago, my kidney function had started to drop to 28 per cent and I was taking nearly 30 tablets a day.’

He said patricia’s gift of a kidney ‘changed my life’.

Stephen added: ‘This has brought us even closer. She is my hero.’