KATRINA Thornton is recovering after receiving a kidney from her sister – the second time a family member has donated an organ to her.

Ms Thornton, a 29-year-old mother-of-two, was born with a blood disorder called nephritis, which stopped her kidneys working properly.

She was able to control the condition with medication and diet until she was 18, but eventually had to start dialysis treatment and was told that she needed a transplant.

She endured two years of the gruelling treatment, which uses a machine to remove harmful toxins, waste products and excess water from the blood, before her father Pete donated one of his kidneys.

She was then able to live a normal life and gave birth to two sons, Jamie and Daniel.

But last year the problem returned and she once again had to start dialysis treatment.

Ms Thornton said: “Really my dad gave me three lives when he donated his kidney – mine and my two boys.

“But the nephritis returned in my dad’s kidney and they told me I needed another transplant.”

Ms Thornton, a sales representative for Newsquest Oxfordshire, said both her sisters Julia and Louisa stepped forward to offer her their kidneys. But Louisa became pregnant and was ruled out of being a donor.

Ms Thornton added: “After that there was never any question about it. Julia stepped forward and went through all the tests.

“My other sister is actually getting married in May and Julia and I are bridesmaids, so we were asking the Churchill Hospital if they could hurry the operation up, so we could be ready in time.

“Julia was taken for surgery first, in the morning, and once they had taken her kidney out, I was taken down.

“We really wanted to speak to each other, so as soon as I came round, the anaesthetist rang the ward Julia was on and we spoke over the phone to check each other was ok.

“Recovery seems to be much easier this time around. I suppose the treatment has come a long way.”

Julia, 24, who is currently living with Ms Thornton in Wootton, near Abingdon while they both recover, said: “It’s brilliant to be able to do this. Her birthday is coming up soon but I think after this I’ll be let off getting her presents for the next 20 years – birthday and Christmas.”

Their mother Rosemary said having two daughters going through the operation at the same time was an emotional experience.

She added: “But everything was great. It’s just so nice to have them both back getting better.”