A MOTHER of triplets gave her husband a hug and thanked him for giving her the gift of life.
Dave Crowley couldn't bear to see his beloved wife Lorraine in pain as she suffered a life -threatening kidney condition.
So he sacrificed one of his own organs to spare her an agonising spell on a transplant waiting list.
Experts think they are the only husband and wife kidney swap in the North West.
Lorraine - whose father died of kidney failure and whose sister also had a transplant - is still recuperating after the operation at Royal Liverpool Hospital.
This week she praised her brave husband.
'It takes a lot of courage and a tremendous amount of love,
she said. 'What greater gift can your husband give to you than this.'
Dave, 53, said: 'I was becoming extremely anxious about the state of her ill health and I thought that's enough, I can't watch her suffer like this. We talked it through and decided I would be tested with the consideration of becoming a donor.
The couple, of Belgrave Gardens, Chester, are now raising cash for Mersey Kidney Research.
Lorraine, 53, added: 'My message is don't send your organs to heaven - heaven knows we need them down here.'
MKR fundraiser Leslie Shiells said: 'They are the only husband and wife donors I am aware of in the North West.'
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