A LOVING wife says she can’t wait to save her husband from renal failure by donating a kidney.

Mary Cuff, 60 from Prestwick ‘never thought twice’ about the major surgery to rescue her husband from the life-threatening condition, which she warns is a silent killer.

She was thrilled to find out that she was a match for Brian, 63 after his kidney function deteriorated to seven per cent and he was put on dialysis.

But Mary acted fast to get tested and decided to announce the news with a special surprise.

The gran of five told the Advertiser: “I never thought twice about it, I just said let’s get it done. I just want our lives back.

“When I got the results back that I was a match, it was September 14, I’ll never forget it.

“It was near his birthday, so I got a matchstick and wrapped two wee kidney beans round it and put it in a wee box to surprise him.

“He was blown away by the fact that I was a match for him. He was just flabbergasted.”

Mary has gone through a full year of rigorous medical tests to make sure she was a blood match and tissue match to ensure that the new kidney will work for her husband.

Despite the major surgery, she is determined to see Brian get back on his feet so the avid cruise goers can once again go on holiday together.

She said: “It’s great to know I can do something to save my husband, I’ve literally got it in me to save him.”

Brian received the devastating diagnosis in September 2016 just before a Caribbean cruise after struggling with high blood pressure and noticing swelling on his back after his granddaughter accidently fell on him.

The family were absolutely stunned to see that the cause of the bizarre symptoms was renal failure.

Now Mary wants to warn others of the ‘silent killer’.

She said: “That’s why it’s a silent killer, people don’t know enough about it. If you’ve got high blood pressure, retaining fluid and overweight get it checked out. It’s a simple test, scan, blood test and urine test, that’s all it takes. If you’ve got swelling in your ankles it could be renal failure, but no one thinks that.”

Brian managed with medication until 2017 when doctors had to step in to stabilise his blood pressure, potassium levels and opted to place him on dialysis.

She said: “It was a real shock for us all, we were not expecting it. He didn’t look ill at all, he was still very active. Had we not found out about it; it could have killed him. He’s been losing one per cent of his kidney function per month.”

As his condition began to get worsen doctors were left with no option but to look for a donor match.

Mary first checked if she was a blood match before pledging one of her vital organs to save her husband’s life. Last year she was given the all clear from tests and now the operation can go ahead.

Mary added: “I put myself forward to see if I could be a donor for him, see if I was a blood match then if I was a tissue match.

“I went through a year of tests; everything is alright with me. I get monitored every three months – blood and renal function and mammograms. He’s having scans on his arteries to make sure he’s ready.”

Mary hopes that the operation will happen within the next few months so they can set sail to the sunshine again.

She added: “It affects everyone in the family. It’s not just our journey, it’s their journey too. I just want to get it done so we can get back on our holidays. We both like our cruises, the last one was the Caribbean which was brilliant.”

Mary has also started a fundraiser for the dialysis unit at Crosshouse hospital who organise trips for patients and their families to enjoy a day/ night out as she aims to give something back.

You can find out more about Mary's fundraiser here.