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DIFFICULT TIMES: Dialysis patient Jasmine Parker with her 19-month-old son Leo Stringer at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford

Seventeen-year-old Jasmine Parker is one of dozens of people in Oxfordshire waiting for a new kidney.

Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday she and her mother Diane Wincott make the 56-mile round trip from their home in Banbury to Oxford and the Churchill Hospital's Haemo Dialysis Unit. There, Jasmine is hooked up to a machine that cleans her blood. Each session lasts three-and-a-half hours. Without it, she would die.

But it probably would not be needed if more people took a few minutes to sign the Organ Donor Register. She said: "I didn't actually know I was ill until I fell pregnant with my son Leo. I was only 15 and it was a shock, but I knew I would keep my baby. Then, at my 20-week scan, they found I had protein in my urine and it was then they discovered my kidneys were failing. That was an even bigger shock and I was very frightened.

"The doctors said if I hadn't found out and been treated, I could have been dead by the time I was 21. So in that way, my son Leo actually saved my life."

Jasmine's condition meant her pregnancy was risky.She said: "My body struggled during the pregnancy and I had to deliver Leo at 32 weeks, eight weeks early.

"Then, when he was just over a year old, my kidneys failed altogether and I had to go on dialysis. It's tough - and not just the travelling or the treatment. Instead of spending all my time with Leo, a big chunk of my week is spent away from him, wired up to a machine, while friends and family take care of him.

"I'm not complaining. I know these machines keep me alive and the nurses at the Churchill are amazing. But if I had a new kidney I wouldn't have to spend time away from my son and I would be well able to do all the things I want to do with him, instead of being tired and poorly all the time."

She has been told she could wait up to six years for a kidney to become available. She said: "At the moment, I'm pinning my hopes on receiving one of my mum's kidneys in a live transplant.

"She wants to do this for me and is currently having all the tests to see if she can. I wish she didn't have to do this, but it doesn't look like there's a choice, there just aren't the organs available. I just want to be able to live my life."

Jasmine's mother, Diane Wincott, 43, said: "Jasmine has been through so much but she copes very well. As her mum I would do anything to help her - automatically - and I hope I can donate a kidney. But, if not, there's no shortage of people in our family who would do this. We all hate to see Jasmine suffering.

"Since this has happened to Jasmine, our whole family have signed up to the organ donor register and I'm very pleased the Oxford Mail is running this campaign."

To find out more, call 0845 606 0400.

6:00am Thursday 13th March 2008

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