Jude Skilton has wanted to give her sister one of her kidneys since she was a little girl.
And now she can finally give Jo Shipley the gift that will change her life after months of tests and waiting.
The Weston-super-Mare sisters were due to undergo surgery at Southmead Hospital today with Mrs Skilton's kidney being removed in a keyhole procedure and being transplanted in her sister in another operation.
Ms Shipley, 32 has only had one kidney since the other was removed when she was just eight days old because there was a tumour on it.
The mum-of-two was diagnosed with kidney failure last summer and because her one kidney was struggling so much was put straight on to dialysis – which performs the functions of the kidneys.
When Ms Shipley first became unwell last summer it was thought that her sister would not be a suitable donor but after checks and tests it was discovered that she could donate her own kidney.
Mrs Skilton said: "Apparently I used to say when I was really little that I have a kidney for her."
They have been told that Mrs Skilton's kidney is a perfect match, which will give her sister the best chance.
The 34-year-old mum of two cried when she got the final go-ahead to help her sister and was almost inconsolable by the time she spoke to Ms Shipley.
"It is just exciting now," Mrs Skilton said.
"People have been asking if I am nervous or scared but I'm not, because I'm not ill.
"I know I'm going to have a kidney taken out and there will be a scar and that I have to recover, but because I am giving something so amazing I have that feeling like when you buy a present for someone and cannot wait for them to open it, but a lot bigger.
"I cannot wait for it to get plumbed in because it will literally give her life back."
Ms Shipley said: "I just can't wait to see how I feel because I have been ill for so long.
"When I had my first dialysis I felt brilliant afterwards. I didn't realise how ill I was until treatment started, but now I have plateaued a bit and am feeling groggy all the time. My kidney is working at less than eight per cent so to have a new kidney that is going to be working at 40 to 50 per cent is going to be fantastic. And it will get better."
Ms Shipley was also counting down her last dialysis sessions ahead of the operation and is thrilled that the transplant means her life will not revolve around having the procedure which does the work of her kidneys.
In preparation for the operation Mrs Skilton has been ensuring she is fit and healthy.
Despite her initial disappointment at having been told she could not donate a kidney to her sister she now believes that being prompted to start a blog about it helped raise awareness about kidney disease and donation.
Mrs Skilton said: "If I had got the go ahead in the very beginning I wouldn't have been so public about it but because I wanted to find someone who could help.
"This has been good because it has been raising awareness.
"You can give blood, bone marrow, bits of lung and liver while you are alive and you can give a kidney.
"It's safe and you get the reassurance of a full health MOT.
"I hope that maybe we have also made people think that this is not just an old person's disease. Jo is gorgeous, young and vibrant with two children but if she was not on dialysis and wasn't getting a transplant she would be dead within two weeks. It's got to open people's eyes."
Ms Shipley said: "Until you are personally affected a lot of people don't consider organ donation."
Mrs Skilton has asked for a photograph to be taken of her kidney before it goes inside her sister.
She thinks they will probably throw a kidney party once they have both recovered, which they will combine with some fundraising and are likely to mark its anniversary.
They have already raised more than £500 for Kidney Research UK.
And rather than sending cards or flowers the sisters are asking wellwishers to either make donations to the Richard Bright Unit at Southmead or Ambleside dialysis unit at Weston-super-Mare.
For more information on the sisters' journey visit http://thestrengthoftwosisters.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/the-big-day.html?m=1.
