Glyn and Claire

Flowers and chocolates are often the gift of choice for a loved one on Valentine’s Day, but in Claire Davies’ case, she gave one of her kidneys to keep her husband alive.

Glyn Davies, from Harworth near Doncaster, urgently needed a new kidney after the condition of both of his deteriorated to dangerously poor levels.

The number of people in desperate need of an organ transplant has never been higher, with more than 8,000 currently on the waiting list, according to NHS Blood and Transplant.

Yet Glyn’s destined match for a lifesaving kidney just so happened to be his soul mate Claire.

Claire said: “I had to go through a series of tests to confirm that my kidney was a suitable match, and the transplant co-ordinator was constantly having to manage my expectations.

“As soon as I saw the date for the tests was on my mother’s birthday, I had a good feeling about it and thought she’d be looking down on me, and I was proven right!

“On Valentine’s Day last year, just a few hours after the operation, Glyn looked totally different – his eyes were brighter, he had more colour, and he looked like the person I knew before.

“Before this happened I wasn’t sure about donating my organs, but what has happened has totally changed my perspective on the importance of consenting to organ donation, and telling your loved ones that you support it so that if anything were to happen to you, they know what you would have wanted if they are ever asked the question.”

Glyn added: “If I was a betting man, I would not have been putting a stake on Claire being a suitable donor for me from what we’d been told,”

“When we found out the news that she was a match and the transplant could go ahead, I was amazed.

“I started off very tired and sluggish while having dialysis, but after I had my transplant the difference in my energy levels was unbelievable.”

In January 2023, Glyn was diagnosed with ANCA vasculitis, a disorder where antibodies attack red blood cells, causing fatigue and fever-like symptoms.

Glyn said: “What I thought was going to be a quick A&E appointment at the hospital turned into a three-month stay.

“I found out at the time that my blood pressure was 220 over 100, and before I knew it, I was being admitted for further treatment.

“I had a kidney biopsy, two blood transfusions, seven blood plasma changes, and two chemo infusions to try and re-boot my kidneys – but it didn’t work.

“One night I really thought I was going to die, and I felt like everything was closing in on me. I just wanted to run but I had pains in my chest and I couldn’t breathe. I was frightened.”

Glyn managed to turn a corner though, and embarked on a 12-month period of dialysis treatment before he could be placed on the transplant waiting list – which saw him decide to continue his day job as a materials engineer at a construction firm by working from home three days a week.

Glyn and Claire would also go on to tie the knot, after 18 years together, in August 2024. Just one day after their wedding, Glyn was placed on to the transplant waiting list, and at the front of the queue wanting and able to help was his wife, Claire.

The transplant was successfully completed at Northern General Hospital in Sheffield, unlocking not only a new lease of life for Glyn, but more time for him to spend with his wife Claire, their children and grandchildren.

The next stage of Glyn’s recovery will be competing in golf for the first time at the Westfield Health British Transplant Games, where he will be representing the Sheffield Adults Team.

The Games is the annual flagship event of Transplant Active, and is a multi-sport event created to demonstrate the healthy, fulfilling lives that transplant patients can lead, whilst also providing an opportunity to thank live donors and donor families for their life-changing generosity.

Sheffield is hosting the 2026 iteration between 6 and 9 August, where over 2,500 participants, including organ donors and their families, are expected to take part across 26 sports.

Glyn said: “One of the key-ways I have coped over the past two years is keeping my mind and body active – whether that’s through work or playing golf - and it’s continued to help me with my recovery too, and I’m really excited to experience the Games for the first time.”

Claire is also participating in the Games’ donor walk alongside Caroline Basarab-Horwath, the transplant co-ordinator from the Sorby Unit at Northern General Hospital, who looked after them both during the whole process.

She said: “Some of the hospital staff – especially Caroline – have been amazing and have become like family; without them I don’t know how either of us would have coped.”