Why Oswestry couple are a perfect match in every way

This time last year, Adrian Hill could not enjoy the festivities because he was suffering from chronic kidney disease.

The 47-year-old, who was born with one kidney, needed dialysis treatment three times a week, for four hours at a time.

But thanks to Nicola donating one of her kidneys, the outlook for 2016 is much more positive.

• Kidney disease can affect anyone but is more common in older people.

• Chronic kidney disease is common, affecting more than three million people in the UK. However, it can go undetected as people often have no symptoms.

• There is currently no cure available for people with end stage kidney failure. The only treatments are dialysis, a transplant or conservative care.

• Every year 57,000 people in the UK are being treated for end stage kidney failure.

• About 5,500 people are waiting for a kidney.

• Fewer than 3,000 transplants are carried out each year and five people die every week waiting for a kidney transplant. (Source: worldkidneyday.co.uk

So far the couple, of Middleton Road, Oswestry, along with the help of family and friends, have raised almost £1,000 for the British Kidney Patient Association by sending out teddy bears for people to guess their names.

And Mrs Hill, 45, said they're delighted with people's generosity.

"We are so grateful to our friends, family, and to the local people who have donated, we've got so many people to thank. This year has just been unbelievable, especially when we think back to this time last year just before Ade was at his worst," she said.

"Last Christmas Day he ate his starter before feeling unwell and sleeping all afternoon.

"Then it was on New Year when Ade went into hospital and stayed for the week to get him used to dialysis, and it's brilliant to say there's no dialysis this time."

Following an initial blood test, Mrs Hill underwent months of testing before the big day arrived in August, when the transplant took place at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

Mr Hill says he's had the best Christmas gift he could ask for.

He said: "It still feels good now, the improvement in me is massive, I just couldn't have imagined all of this a year ago. I always said I didn't believe it would be happening until the kidney was inside me. You can never be sure until it's happened."

Mr Hill, who was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease at the age of 38, had always known the disease would eventually result in him needing a donor but never imagined that person would come in the form of his wife.

In August 2014, Mrs Hill put herself forward to see whether she could be a living donor for her husband and discovered they were a blood match, then following intensive testing between December to June this year it was confirmed they matched.

The couple are now excited at the prospect of a healthy 2016 when they will also celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary.

Mrs Hill said: "We can't wait for normality but also to raise funds and awareness for the British Kidney Patient Association, as well as keep pushing to encourage people to become donors.

"This year has been unbelievable so we're getting ready to continue moving forward.

"Part of our fundraising includes a race night we have booked at Oswestry Cricket Club on March 11. We want to let as many people as possible know about it."

She added: "Now we'd just like to thank everyone for their continued support. What a year it's been."

To help the Hills' fundraising efforts, you can donate at https://www.justgiving.com/n-hill1?utm_id=35