A GRIEVING mum has given the gift of life to her youngest son — just months after the death of his elder brother.

Brenda Thornton, aged 56, donated a kidney to 22-year-old Daniel, who was suffering from a kidney disorder.

She was still trying to cope with the death of her eldest son, Mark, who was 37 when he died in April after being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.

After being told she was a match for Daniel, Mrs Thornton jumped at the chance to save his life and he underwent a gruelling transplant operation five weeks ago.

Mrs Thornton, of Brierfield Drive, Bury, said: “I had no hesitation about offering my kidney to Daniel. If I could have done something for Mark as well, I would have done it. I would do anything for my children.”

Daniel, a former pupil at St Gabriel’s High School, developed kidney problems when he was 14.

He initially suffered from a sore throat, but doctors found he had a kidney disorder called IgA nethrophy.

Daniel was told he might need a kidney transplant in his late 30s.

But his condition worsened last year and the transplant had to be brought forward when it was discovered he had just six per cent kidney function.

Mrs Thornton, who also has two daughters, was found to be a match and she underwent surgery last month at Manchester Royal Infirmary.

The operation was a success and both Mrs Thornton and Daniel are making good progress and recovering at home.

But their joy has been tinged with sadness as they remembered Mark, particularly because the hospital stay coincided with what would have been his 38th birthday. Daniel, a postman for Royal Mail, said: “It was hard to be in hospital on Mark’s birthday. I was recovering and asked the doctors to let me out that day, but they wouldn’t. They discharged me two days later and the first place I went was his grave so that I could leave him a card.”

Mark, of Mayor Street, Bury, went to see a doctor in March complaining of a foot problem.

The doctor noticed he was short of breath and tests revealed he had a tumour in his lungs, which was a secondary form of neuroendocrine cancer.

He was treated in hospital and went into intensive care, before he died on April 13. He left two children, Grace, aged 13, and George, aged 10.

Mrs Thornton said: “Mark was a big, strapping lad and was never ill. He hardly ever went to the doctor. It came as a real blow when we found out he was ill. It has devastated the whole family. We can’t believe he’s not here.

“When we found out that Daniel needed a transplant, Mark was the first person to offer his kidney. He would have wanted us to go through with it, even though we were still grieving. I couldn’t stop thinking about him. I was frightened, but I was determined to go through with it. I didn’t want to lose another son.

“We’re glad that the operation was a success, but we haven’t felt like opening the champagne to celebrate. Our wounds from the operation are healing, but we will always be grieving for Mark. It would have been more of a celebration if our whole family had been here.”

Daniel, who lives in Walmersley Road, Bury, with his girlfriend, Zara Walker, gave his mum a card to thank her for the donation.

He said: “I can’t thank my mum enough for doing this. I am very grateful to her. Without a kidney transplant, my only other option was to have dialysis three times a week and spend most of my time in hospital. This has given me a chance to live my life.”

Mrs Thornton is now urging other people to follow in her footsteps and make a live organ donation.

She said: “There are more and more live donors every year and I didn’t realise how many people need transplants until I went to the clinics. I would encourage anyone else to consider helping a relative who needs a transplant. It really does save lives.”

Anyone wishing to find out more about organ donation can visit www.uktransplant.org.uk.