THE astonishing bravery of a Chorley mum who sacrificed her own health to save the life of her sick daughter, was revealed this week to the Citizen.

Joan Lowe, 70, whose daughter Barbara suffered serious kidney problems since being 15 months old, courageously underwent months of hospital tests to see whether she was able to donate one of her kidneys to her ill daughter.

Now in a bid to try and thank her, Barbara nominated supermum Joan in this year's Citizen Mother's Day Makeover Competition earlier this month - which she won.

Barbara Wolfe, 43, who lives at Newton Drive, Blackpool, finds it hard to put into words the sacrifice her mother has made for her.

Barbara said: "When someone does something like what my mum did for me, it's hard to know what to do to thank them.

"It's very, very special what my mum has done for me. I nominated my mum for this competition because in my eyes, she's a very special and wonderful person."

Barbara was diagnosed by doctors with having Hydro-Nephrosis - a condition which means that blood and urine were pumped back into her kidneys.

And sadly in July 1997, both of Barbara's kidneys collapsed and as a result she spent months on a dialysis machine.

Mother Joan, who works part-time at Chorley's Imperial Cancer Research charity shop, explained the anguish she went through watching her daughter's agony in hospital.

Joan, who lives at Ash Grove, Chorley, said: "At first, Barbara refused my suggestion to donate one of my kidneys. But, what could I do? I wanted to help her so much.

"The doctors ran all sorts of tests to see whether we were both compatible. They told me that I had to lose weight - so that's exactly what I did."

Joan promptly joined a local gym and lost 25 pounds in just 17 weeks.

Now, after the transplant in July last year, Barbara has explained how much her life has changed - for the better.

"Being on dialysis was very, very hard. But now, my life has improved tremendously. Now, I can go shopping with my daughter Francesca and do all the things I always wanted to do.", explained Barbara.

The Citizen Mother's Day Makeover prize, donated by Preston's House of Hair, will mean that winner Joan will be treated to a full make-over, a new hair style and a chauffeur-driven limousine for the day.

And Joan will be taking full advantage when she attends a cabaret evening at Chorley's Pines Hotel later this month.

Joan added: "I just can't wait. I was really surprised, to say the least, that Barbara nominated me. I had absolutely no idea!"

Finally, both Joan and Barbara had a special message to Preston Hospital's Dialysis Unit.

They said: "We want to specially thank all the staff at the unit for their help. They were truly wonderful."

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