A 22-YEAR-OLD who was spending 70 hours a week on dialysis says there are "no words" to express her gratitude after being gifted a kidney by her mum.

Chloe Knott was born three months prematurely with poorly developed kidneys and doctors told the family she would need a transplant in the future.

However, her mum, Laura,, waited almost 20 years to find out if she could help her daughter.

Doctors wouldn't carry out the tests to find out if Laura was a match until Chloe was put on dialysis two years ago.

Last Summer, Laura, 47, finally received the news she had prayed for when doctors told her she was a "near perfect" match for her daughter. The operation was carried out, just over a month ago at Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

Chloe, who is from Shawlands, said: "Mum was told I would need a transplant when I was three years old and she always prayed she was a match.

"Your body is constantly changing so it would have been a waste of time to test her when I was younger.

"The doctors said we were almost a perfect match, which is very rare.

"The night before the operation we couldn't stop chatting. We couldn't believe we had finally got here.

"Mum said afterwards she would have given me her other kidney."

While most patients face an uncertain wait for a donor organ - there are more than 500 Scots patients waiting for a transplant - Chloe knows she is extremely lucky as both her sister Lucy, 26 and step-dad Alan, were also mathces so she has two other kidneys "in the bank."

She said: "I am very lucky.

"The doctors said they would rather go with mum first because she is older.

"Lucy found out first and I remember I was at work and I had about 10 missed calls. She came to my work and asked me to come down to reception.

"She looked at me and just started nodding her head and I knew what that meant.

"I was speechless and I couldn't stop crying. I phoned my mum and she said, 'it's just me to go now.'

"There are 13 tests you have to go through.

"I was on peritoneal dialysis which you do overnight in your own home.

"However my creatinine levels, which are the amount of toxins in your blood, went up to 1387. A normal level is about 10.

"The dialysis wasn't cleaning my blood as it should be so I had to do 70 hours of dialysis a week because they wouldn't do the transplant till it went down to 1000 as it's too risky."

After Chloe's health improved, the pair were admitted to hospital on August 4 for the surgery.

She said: "Mum was at the bottom of the ward where the donors go and I was at the top.

"In the morning I sprinted down to see mum to give her a hug. It was so emotional.

"Donating was a higher risk for her, I wasn't worried for myself. This is what every kidney patient waits for.

"Mum had her surgery first. When I saw her afterwards I just burst into tears. I didn't know what to say. I felt like we always knew it was going to happen but I don't think anyone can prepare you for it.

"The doctors told me it's very unlikely that my body will reject it.

"People think dialysis is a cure but it's only keeping you alive. I was so tired before. I felt so fresh after the operation."

Chloe has launched an imaginative toy scheme for patients who are undergoing transplants with her sister Lucy.

The pair stitch on "replacement limbs" onto soft toys for children (and adults) undergoing transplants. The toys are available to buy online and Chloe will also gift them out to patients to boost their spirits.

The idea was taken from a similar Japanese project, which aims to raise awareness about organ donation.

Chloe said: "We promote organ donation in a fun, creative and educational way by giving damaged toys a second chance at life.

"The money we make goes to different charities every month that helps people in need of life saving organ transplants."

Mum, Laura, who lives in Inverness and owns a restaurant in the city, says "every day is like a birthday" after seeking her daughter's health transformed but modestly declined to be photographed for our article, saying "Chloe is the star."

She said: "To be honest, any parent would do what I did.

"I had always known ever since she was born that she would need a new kidney. It was something I had always hoped for and so to only find out for definite last Summer.

"It was amazing. I have never been so happy.

"The change in Chloe has been phenomenal."

Chloe and her sister Lucy are hoping to secure sponsorship for Transplant Toys. If you could help, contact Chloe by email transplanttoys@hotmail.com