Keith swimming pool lifeguard Clare Mitchell (19) has been overwhelmed by her family's support since she was diagnosed with kidney failure earlier this year.

Told by doctors that she urgently needs the same transplant op which her mother, Frances (46), underwent six years ago, the news initially came as a big shock to Clare.

But watching mum's life return to normality since has been inspirational to the teenager, as she waits to find a suitable organ donor.

And that could bring in her father, Dougie (44), who has volunteered to give one of his own healthy kidneys to help end his daughter's misery.

"Straight away, I just wanted to be tested to see if I was a match," Mr Mitchell said.

"It was hard enough when my wife had it, but it's definitely even worse when it's one of your kids."

Clare had been experiencing pains in her feet for the past three years, and although doctors initially thought she could have arthritis, subsequent tests detected it was something far worse.

She was suffering from gout, a condition linked to kidney illness, and was taken to hospital in Aberdeen, where the full extent of her problems was discovered.

"The doctors were saying that I had to go on dialysis, and it would have to be soon because it was that far gone," Clare said. "My creatinine level (in her blood) was away up to 715, when in a normal person it's only about 100.

"But they also spoke to me about getting a transplant."

That brought back memories of when her mother went through the same process, although doctors are unsure if there is a family link to the illness, since Mrs Mitchell's kidneys were so small that she could not have a biopsy.

"I was shocked. I just thought, 'Oh my God, what happens now?'," Clare said. "At first my mum was not too happy with me having to go through a transplant.

"She said she would rather go through it all again herself rather than one of her bairns going through it."

But Clare said her mother's advice has been invaluable, helping her when she first began dialysis at their Hay Crescent home.

Clare Mitchell is waiting to have the same kidney transplant as her mum, Frances, while dad Dougie hopes to be a donor. NS

And Mrs Mitchell's own remarkable recovery has given her daughter a huge boost.

"She's just brilliant. She has never looked back, and she is just a different person altogether.

"Before the transplant, she was constantly tired. Now you just can't stop her. We have to peel her off the ceiling all the time!"

Clare has also been thrilled by the support from friends and family, including brother Richard (27) and sister Laura (21), who also wanted to become her donor, but was advised that she was too young.

The former Keith Grammar School pupil now wants to get back to working longer hours at the local swimming pool, where she loves teaching youngsters how to swim.

And she is determined to return to another of her greatest loves - travelling to Glasgow to watch her beloved Celtic football team.

Along with close pal Nicole Pirie - who was born on the same day - football-mad Clare was a regular fixture at Celtic Park until her illness.

Now her daily dialysis treatments make travelling far from home difficult, although she was able to attend a recent Scotland international match and stay overnight in Glasgow.

Clare is also keen to give something back to staff at the dialysis unit in Aberdeen which has given her so much help this year.

So when local charity organiser Hazel Johnston offered to stage a fund-raising dance, it gave Clare the perfect opportunity to say 'thank you'.

The charity dance takes place in Keith's British Legion on Saturday, November 21, with music supplied by live band The Jacks.

Tickets are available, priced £10, from Mrs Johnston on 01542 882498.

c.christie@northern-scot.co.uk

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