WHEN Rod Petman found out he needed a kidney transplant, it was his wife Patricia who volunteered to step in and save his life.

The couple, from Nuthall, had always known that Rod might need a transplant one day because he had suffered from a progressive kidney disease for most of his life.

His name was put on the organ transplant list on Christmas Eve 2007 and they began waiting for a donor.

For Mrs Petman, 56, it was difficult to watch her husband's health deteriorate and when a donor failed to come forward, she decided she would give her own kidney to save his life.

"He became less energetic as the year progressed. It's disturbing when he was not well and not able to do what he used to be able to do," she said. "Donating my kidney became more and more the obvious thing to do."

Mr Petman, 58, was facing the rest of his life on dialysis if no donor could be found. He said: "I was hopeful about finding a donor. Once you get on to the list, you have high hopes."

But he said he had mixed feelings about taking a kidney from his wife.

"I felt happy but concerned as well," he said.

Mrs Petman said: "I think you have nerves at the beginning but once you've gone through the nine months of tests and decisions, I think the nerves are put to rest."

The couple, who are both teachers at Holgate School, in Hucknall, have five children between them and a grandchild is on the way.

On November 19, 2008, the transplant operation took place at the City Hospital in Nottingham.

Everything went very smoothly and Mr and Mrs Petman have both made a good recovery.

"Within myself, I feel fine now," said Mr Petman. "I have been very lucky.

"Before the operation I felt very tired but now I feel much more energetic and everybody says I look better."

Mr Petman gave his sincere thanks to the staff at the hospital's renal unit and told them that they had all been very helpful.

Magdi Shehata, the surgeon who operated on the couple, said it was wonderful that Mrs Petman had given her own kidney to help her husband.

Mr Shehata said: "It's one of the most wonderful gifts anyone can give.

"Every year you stay on dialysis, it will affect your chances of survival and take a year from your life.

"The sooner you have a kidney transplant, the better things are."

He added: "Fifteen to 20 years ago, it was very rare to have a husband match his wife.

"But now we don't need a blood tissue match anymore, so it is happening more and more often.

"We do about 20 live donor operations a year and about seven or eight of those would be a spouse."

Mr Petman has now passed the first two critical stages after his operation because fortunately, he did not suffer an immediate or early rejection of the kidney donated by his wife.

The final critical stage will end 90 days after the operation, by which point he is unlikely to reject the organ.

Mr Shehata said: "Mr Petman's kidney is functioning really well, as he has had no rejection. His prospects are excellent."