Brothers in kidney swop op

Two brothers from Shifnal today underwent operations as the one donated his kidney to the other.Mark Mountford, 41, was the first one to theatre at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital, followed by his 28-year-old brother Lee, who was receiving his kidney this afternoon.

The pair had final tests early today to see if the transplant could go ahead.

Lee said yesterday: "I'm not nervous at the moment. I tend to get nervous just before they take me down for the operation. Mark is getting quite nervous now. This is his first time in hospital really."

For Lee the transplant will mean the end of hours of dialysis he has endured over the last four years.

"Obviously I want to get back to work and feel well all the time," he said. "It's quite hard feeling poorly and sickly. I also have a lot of restrictions on fluid and food.

"I would just like to thank all the family really for their support and everyone who has helped us."

His three brothers, his sister and father were all tested to see whether they were a match, which they all were, and it was decided his eldest brother would be the one to donate a kidney.

Lee said he had been plagued by health problems since just after he was born.

Another of his brothers, Jason, now of Skegness, Lincolnshire, has described his pride at what his siblings were doing.

"I am extremely proud of both of my brothers and only hope I would have their courage if faced with the same operation."