It is difficult to imagine what it would be like to spend more than ten years having to go to hospital three times a week to endure kidney dialysis in order to stay alive.

And all that time she also just had to wait in the hope that one day her ordeal would be over - but with no idea of exactly when.

Today you only have to look at the two photographs of Christine Mills to see what a difference a transplant can make.

The average delay between diagnosis and transplant is three years but Christine had to spend much longer on the waiting list because of difficulties in finding a suitable organ and her other health problems.

Her sister and a friend offered to help but their blood groups ruled them out.

The waiting list is long because the number of people suffering kidney disease is growing but the total of who have agreed to become donors has not increased.

The problem is that becoming a donor involves the pro-active step of obtaining and carrying a card and that's something many of us never quite seem to get round to - in the same way as signing up to give blood.

Let's hope seeing what a difference a transplant has made to Christine's life encourages more to make the move and get a card.