IT was the happiest moment in his life and a day David Mudd thought he would never see.

Just 10 days after undergoing a seven-hour operation to replace his kidney and pancreas, the proud dad was there to march down the aisle alongside his daughter, Paula, who was marrying fiance David Smith.

It was a dream come true for Mr Mudd, whose life-saving operation took place on May 8 -- thanks to the donation of organs by a bereaved family.

That momentous decision has given Mr Mudd, a travel assistant for the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive, the chance to live a normal life.

And at the weekend, he enjoyed his first sip of champagne in years, celebrating not only his daughter's wedding, but toasting his own future health.

He will no longer need regular visits to a dialysis unit and is also cured of the chronic condition, diabetes.

Mr Mudd, married with two grown up children, said: "The doctors, nurses and clerical staff have all been brilliant.

"They need as much support as they can get. I know they are short of donors. I know I am lucky -- at the moment I feel on top of the world."

Mr Mudd was diagnosed with diabetes 15 years ago.

He coped with the condition until 1998 when a tumour developed on a kidney.

He had to have the kidney removed but his second kidney failed to function properly. He began dialysis and continued to juggle his insulin intake to manage his erratic blood sugars caused by his pancreas not producing insulin.

But his health was suffering and seven months ago, Mr Mudd was told by specialists that he needed a transplant.

He was put on a 24-hour alert system and the fateful call came at 3am on Wednesday, May 8 -- just 10 days before he was to see his daughter married.

Mr Mudd said: "I asked the surgeons if I would be out in time. And they all worked flat out to make sure that I made it. It was a very fast recovery. I made sure I was on my feet again. I had an added incentive."

The wedding, at St Paul's Peel Church, Little Hulton, marked the end of the family ordeal.

Mr Mudd said: "My wife, Jennifer, had a very hectic time rushing to the hospital to see me and organising Paula's wedding.

"But I have the best of all worlds now. It feels great not having the diabetes anymore and not to have the dialysis. I wouldn't have missed Paula's wedding for the world. I'm over the moon."

Paula said: "I would have hated my dad to miss the wedding. But I didn't want him to put off the transplant because of me."

Donors factfile

There were only 777 organ donors in the UK last year with 6,107 waiting for a transplant.

Mr Mudd was lucky to have found a matching donor. There are currently 116 patients waiting for an identical kidney/pancreas operation.

Manchester has 450 patients awaiting kidney transplants with 140-150 kidney transplants performed annually at Manchester Royal Infirmary.

Bolton is said to be a very active town when it comes to organ donation.

Last year, five organ donors came from Bolton for patients at the MRI.

The Royal Bolton Hospital also has been given a grant to employ a donor liaison officer.

The number of organ donors fell in Manchester last year from 74 in 2000 to 59 this year.

A national donor line open seven days a week, 7am to 11pm, is 0845 60 60 400. Or you can register and download your donor card online by contacting www.nhsorgandonor.net