Twins are saved by parents' kidney gift

David and Diane Spensley with twins Anna and Allison. The sisters waited three years for kidney trasnplants

Identical twins Anna Spensley and Allison Mann have made history by becoming the first to have kidney transplants from both their parents.

More than three years after being diagnosed with renal failure, the 29-year-olds and their parents entered hospital together for a day of organ removals and transplants.

Doctors said it was the first time parents of twins have both been able and willing to donate their kidneys and gone through all the necessary operations in one day.

Since discovering they both had kidney problems in April 2003, the women had been on a nationwide transplant list waiting for a suitable donor but none appeared.

Six months ago, in a last ditch attempt to help their daughters, David and Diane. Spensley were themselves tested for donor suitability. Remarkably they both came through as totally compatible and immediately started to prepare themselves for the operations.

Two weeks ago 52-year-old Diane underwent a four-hour removal operation at St George's Hospital, in Tooting, south London. Her kidney was then transplanted into Allison.

She was followed into the operating theatre a few hours later by her 53-year-old husband who had his kidney removed and put into Anna.

All the operations were carried out by a Czech surgeon, Jiri Fronek, using revolutionary keyhole surgery.

All four are now out of hospital and recuperating at home. Anna and Allison continue making regular visits to St George's for tests to ensure everything is working and doctors are happy with the progress the pair have made.

Speaking from his home in Godalming, Surrey, Mr Spensley said it had been an emotional time for all of them.

"I feel a bit sore but otherwise we are all fine," the businessman said. "It has all been worth it. We had always known that if there was any thing we could do to help we would."

"At the point when we passed the tests there was no doubt that we would donate.

"People can exist with just one of their kidneys working at about 20 per cent. Ours are fully working so giving one away was not an issue."

The dual operations will mean a return to some sort of normality for Anna and Allison, whose daily routines have been controlled by restrictive diets and their dialysis regime.

Anna, a trainee accountant, was the first to be diagnosed with acute renal failure.

Allison also tested positive for renal failure without any underlying causes.Anna said: "This operation means my life will return to normal. It is wonderful."When I was first diagnosed I was in shock. I went to the gym one day and everything was fine and within four days I am diagnosed with kidney failure.

"It affected my career because I had to put my professional exams on hold as well."She added: "It was such a relief finding out that mum and dad could help us."I can't wait to eat grapes again. It has been hard keeping off them."

Allison, a married nursery nurse, had to self-administer her dialysis five times a day using fluid fed in and out of a tube in her stomach. The process took 45 minutes each time.

She said: "At last my life can go back to the way it was. It is such a relief to get up and not have to plan my day around dialysis."