When it comes to the perfect birthday present, most men will hit the High Street or use a laptop.
But for Gillian Morrison, the ideal gift is something her husband simply can’t buy.
The mum of three is in desperate need of a new kidney and husband Grant is praying he is matched in a donor scheme in time for her 40th.
Fitness fanatic Gillian has Bergen’s disease, a condition that causes antibodies to build up in the organ and causes irreparable damage.
But after nearly a decade, she is still waiting for a donor to come forward.
Now Grant hopes he can help provide the lifeline after registering to donate one of his kidneys to a couple in the same situation.
However, accountant Gillian – who is mum to Georgia, eight, Kaelan, five, and Zayn, two – said time is running out.
She added: “Most of the time I manage to stay positive but I am slowly running out of positivity and my main worry is my children. I’ve had family members who were willing to donate.
“I thought I had a match and that I could get a transfer before I needed to get dialysis and life would go on.
“But it didn’t work out. That makes it so tough.”
Gillian, of Aberdeenshire, who turns 40 in September, has a kidney function of just five per cent and faces debilitating dialysis to keep her alive.
Grant, 47, who is also an accountant, will be screened next month as part of a paired exchange donor scheme.
He said: “Our lives are on hold. Not knowing from where a match might come or how long it might take is the hardest part.
“If I had been a match, of course I’d love to have been able to help Gillian.
“But if I can help through the paired donor scheme, then it helps someone else also.
“Either way, it would be the best 40th birthday gift ever for Gillian. We just hope we will get lucky soon and find the right match.
“I want nothing more than for her to get the gift of life.”
The couple urged members of the public to consider becoming a living donor by visiting www.organdonation.nhs.uk.
For now, Gillian takes additional vitamins and calcium supplements as well as medication to control her blood pressure.
She has infusions once a week to stimulate red blood cells to give her energy.
And she is keen to avoid contracting coronavirus or anything that could further compromise her health.
Gillian added: “I’ve had to give up my beloved exercise classes for now and am instead exercising at home.
“I’m trying to isolate myself and follow the advice. We are trying to do so while keeping our children calm.
“We are trying to mask our anxiety by doing more fun things together as a family.”
