A family of lifesavers: Brothers give their kidneys to mother and son

Both have received life-saving kidney transplants from their siblings - Mrs Blunt, 44, from her brother Paul and 22-year- old Gary from his younger brother James.

"We have really kept it in the family," said Mrs Blunt. "We both have the best brothers in the world. They have given both Gary and I our lives back."

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Mother and son both suffered from Alports Syndrome, a kidney disease which meant they needed dialysis and then a new organ to survive.

Mrs Blunt, a civil servant from Wolverhampton, was diagnosed while pregnant with Gary and learnt when he was aged only three that he had inherited the disorder.

"I would come home from hospital as he was just leaving to go, and sometimes we even drove past each other on way into the hospital," said Mrs Blunt.

"It was awful as we were both so exhausted all the time."

Both had gone onto a transplant waiting list but no donors came forward.

Mrs Blunt's sister Elaine wanted to help but was unsuitable as she is diabetic.

Then her brother Paul, 41, a tile salesman, offered to donate a kidney and tests showed he was a perfect match.

"I was thrilled and overwhelmed," said Mrs Blunt.

"But Gary needed as her son.

She began to suffer kidney failure at 39 and started dialysis at 41, at the same time a donor too and I didn't want to have a transplant until he had one.'

James, however, had been waiting to turn 18 so that he could help his big brother in the same way.

"He hated seeing Gary so ill," said their mother.

"They did everything together. When Gary started dialysis, he wanted to give Gary his kidney but was too young. But he was determined to do it.

"As soon as James turned 18 - he wanted to fulfil his promise. I was worried about both my sons going under the surgeon's knife but James was adamant."

Tests found that James was a perfect match for his brother and the transplant went ahead in November 2006 at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

Mrs Blunt, who lives with her partner Richard Edgley, 32, an HGV driver, said: "I was so nervous before the operation, but the boys kept reassuring me that they would be fine.

"They were so calm. I walked with them both down to theatre, praying everything would go smoothly.

"James went first and surgeons carefully removed his kidney, then Gary was taken down, and James's kidney was put into him.

"When the boys came round, they were in quite a lot of pain but the change in Gary was remarkable.

"In just a few hours, the dark circles under his eyes had gone and his skin was a lovely pink colour.

"They were in the same ward, in opposite beds, and as soon as James came round, he wanted to know how Gary was.

"Both burst into tears when they saw each other - it was such an emotional moment.

"Gary was just so grateful for what James had done for him. I am just so proud of James. He had been determined to help Gary and now he has finally done it. He has given Gary his life back - the best present anyone could give."

The successful transplant meant their mother's operation finally went ahead in March 2007 at the University of Coventry Hospital.

"I just couldn't thank Paul enough," said Mrs Blunt.

"When I look at how Gary and I are so healthy now - I'm just so thankful that we both had the best brothers that anyone could ask for."

A spokesman for UK Transplant said: "For a mother and son to have had kidney transplants within their family like this is most unusual."