IT'S the greatest gift a son could ever give his mother - the gift of life.

When 21-year-old Peter Baldwin from Southampton found out his mother had kidney disease he realised that there was only one thing he could do - offer her one of his own.

The family are now waiting for the operation which will see Peter sacrifice one of his own kidneys to save the life of his mother Penny.

Peter's bravery has won praise from his family and friends. He says his sacrifice will be worth it if it sees his mum free from kidney disease by Christmas this year.

Only six per cent of kidney donations come from children to their parents, according to figures released by NHS UK Transplant.

Penny Baldwin, 54, of Meredith Towers in Thornhill discovered she had developed kidney disease four years ago.

She has to endure four-hour dialysis sessions on three days a week.

Her disease also means she needs regular care from her younger daughter Ellen, 23, who lives nearby.

At first the Labour councillor who represents the Bitterne Ward on Southampton City Council, believed her tiredness and muscle pain was due to arthritis.

She was referred to a specialist who broke the devastating news that her kidneys were failing.

She said: "I began going to my doctor four years ago because I was very weak along my shoulder. I felt so weak and tired.

"I kept going back and forth to the doctor. I thought it was part of my arthritis. She sent me to a specialist who turned out to be a kidney specialist. I was quite shocked."

Penny's condition gradually worsened until, in May last year, she was forced to cancel a holiday when her kidneys failed completely.

Since then she has had to endure a gruelling regime of dialysis sessions at Totton's renal clinic three times a week - as well as regular overnight stays at the Queen Alexander Hospital in Cosham near Portsmouth.

It was Peter who first came up with the idea of donating one of his own kidneys to help his mother.

Penny said: "I would not have ever thought of suggesting anything like that to him."

After much discussion in the close- knit family, Peter was referred to a kidney specialist himself to see if his kidneys would be a suitable match.

After extensive tests, he was given the go ahead and hope the operation will go ahead before Christmas.

Penny said: "It is very hard to describe how I feel. I have very mixed emotions. I was in tears to think he was so thoughtful. Of course I

worried about what could happen in the future and he told me not to worry. He told me I was his mum and he wanted me around for a long time."

Peter, a bar worker, said: "It's my mum isn't it? That's the only reason I am doing it. To be honest, I don't really think about the operation much.

"All I am thinking about is my mum and to know she is going to get better makes it worth going through anything."

Anyone wanting to find out more about organ donation should call 0845 60 60 400 or go to the Transplant website at: www.uktransplant.org.uk