A MOTHER given the gift of life by a colleague is looking forward to what the future holds.

After years of dialysis Julie Rogers was overwhelmed when Helen Cavanagh, her work friend from Royal Bank of Scotland, told her she would donate a kidney to her.

She felt compelled to donate after seeing Ms Roger as “existing” rather than living due to her sickness.

Ms Rogers, who works at RBS in Bolton, has a hereditary condition polycystic kidney disease which she has passed on to her daughters, Jordan, aged 22, and Sophie, aged 19.

Her mother also suffers from the disease and it has claimed the lives of her grandfather, her great aunt and aunt.

On Boxing Day Mrs Cavanagh, aged 51, was admitted to hospital along with Ms Rogers, aged 45, for a double operation on December 27.

Mrs Cavanagh, a project manager in Manchester, from Elton, Bury, has now returned home but Ms Rogers, who is originally from Westhoughton and now lives in Hindley, remains in Manchester Royal Infirmary and will be discharged when she feels able to cope.

Since receiving the transplant she has faced some minor complications.

She said: “After the operation I had to go straight to the high dependency unit due to having low blood pressure. Helen came to see me and I became very overwhelmed.

“Since being in hospital I have seen so many people get donors including from deceased donors.”

Before being given the life-changing news from her friend Ms Rogers had been on dialysis for three years — the limit is up to about five years.

She had previously had her kidneys removed and was only allowed to drink 500ml a day before the operation.

She said: “I am hoping I will now have a new lease of life. I haven’t been running for a long time but I would like to do something like that for charity. When Helen and I are both better I would like to celebrate by going on a spa weekend together.”

She also reminded people that you do not have to be related to a person to donate a kidney.