A PLASTERER from Pontllanfraith has donated a kidney to save the life of his father-in-law.

Tony Jones, 38, gave the gift of life to 62-year-old Bill Farr who was suffering from kidney failure and had been receiving dialysis four times a day for two years.

After the family discovered that the pair were a match, Mr Farr’s daughter Hannah Jones — wife of Mr Jones — said that “miracles can happen”.

Mrs Jones told the Argus: “The doctors asked if was there anybody who could donate as otherwise my father would be put on the deceased-donors list.

“Out of the blue, my husband said ‘I will be tested’. Miracles can happen — he was a match.”

It took one year of testing before Mr Jones underwent the operation at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff. Both donor and transplant patient are recovering well. Mr Farr said he has “never felt so good”.

In March 2012, Mr Farr was diagnosed with kidney failure. To help care for him, Mr and Mrs Jones — who have been married for five years — moved in with him.

Mrs Jones, 28, said that the day of the operation, July 7 this year, was “horrendous” as her husband was taken into theatre at 8am, her father went in at noon and she did not receive the all-clear until 8pm.

Mr Farr, who suffered a heart attack when he was 40 and another when he was 52, joked that he felt better after the operation than did his son-in-law, who had to take morphine and suffered from fatigue.

Mr Jones said: “I made the decision as soon as I knew he was ill. I would never have changed my mind. I am OK at the moment. I was tired and on painkillers after the operation but I am OK. We are really close. I have got his back.”

Mrs Jones said that her husband’s decision was “fantastic”.

She said: “How can you thank someone for something like that? It is a completely different quality of life for him (Mr Farr).To have my father back with the family is amazing.”

Mr Farr said: “I was dependent on him. I cannot thank him enough.”

Lisa Burnapp, lead nurse for living donation at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “A lot of people, quite understandably, think you have to be a blood relation or a very close match to donate — but people are often surprised that you do not have to be. It can be very much a bonding exercise. Living donation is great for the people who benefit from it — but not all organs can be donated from a living person.

“If you have done it, let other people know you have done it and how you felt about it and it might make people think about their friends and family. Please also think about what you might do after your death and sign the donor register.”