A vicar has been saved from life-threatening renal failure by his wife, who gave him her kidney.
Rev Matthew Baynes, 53, was told he would spend the rest of his life on dialysis without a transplant, after a kidney disease he had had for 20 years caused him to rapidly deteriorate last Christmas.
Miraculously, everything changed when his wife, Bryony, discovered that her kidney was a positive match.
The transplant surgery successfully took place in Birmingham last month.
Baynes, who is the rector at St. Giles' Church in Bredon, told Christian Today that the disease had been a challenge to his work. "I carried on working right up until the end, but it became increasingly difficult," he said.
Bur despite the difficulties living with the disease caused, Baynes was adament that it "did not shake my faith".
When his condition deteriorated 12 months ago, he was told that he would need a transplant or face life on dialysis. This was when his wife went for tests and discovered that she was a match, despite not being a blood relative.
"I was amazed – I couldn't quite believe that she was a match and that all the necessary tests she had to undergo went well – I was just amazed that it all went relatively smoothly," Baynes said.
He described his gratitude for the "gift" his wife had given him in donating her kidney, and said that the process had deepened his faith. "It made me realise that life is a precious thing and that you can't take it for granted."
The couple had people praying for them around the world, including from Bryony's home church in America; and he added that he was sure "they had made a difference."
Although it's still early days, Baynes is confident that "God has a hand" in their recovery.
Speaking to The Mirror, Bryony shared her experience. "When I found out we shared the same blood group and we were a positive match it felt like it was fate," she said.
"I always thought if the time came I would put myself forward. I gave up smoking more than 10 years ago because I read they wouldn't do a transplant on a smoker. I suppose I did it because I love him.
"When I was confronted by the possibility of him not being around I thought, 'I can't have that'. He drives me mad but he's my best friend. That isn't to say it was easy. There were lots of times in the run-up to it when I was incredibly scared and I was scared for Matthew as well.
"The children were very anxious. But I never thought, 'I don't want to do this' and I would do it again."
She also said that although the recovery has been difficult, the couple have a huge support network around them. "The whole parish and the children at the school have been wishing us well," Bryony said. "They've been incredible and we're overwhelmed and touched by that."
