She's been there through thick and thin… her shoulder to cry

on, her holiday companion and her bridesmaid. Now devoted pal

Hilary O'Shea has flown 10,000 miles from Australia to donate a

kidney to her best friend Frances Valentine. Mrs O'Shea, who

lives in Melbourne, couldn't bear to see her friend of more

than 20 years become more ill. After several months in the

planning the pair yesterday underwent the transplant at

Bristol's Southmead Hospital. Mrs Valentine, from Atwell, near

Box in Wiltshire, has suffered with kidney problems for many

years, but it is only recently her condition has started to

deteriorate. Husband Keith was tested to see if he could be a

donor, but was not compatible. Then Mrs O'Shea stepped in. She

said: “I came over two years ago to visit and asked Frances how

she was, she told me things were getting worse. I said then

that I'd donate my kidney if she needed me to; it went without

saying. “She's my best friend. It's just so nice to be able to

do it. We've always been there for each other, whether it's

someone to talk to, to go on holiday with or now to go through

this with.” Mrs Valentine added: “I knew that she meant it and

knew Hilary was the sort of person who, once she decides

something, she makes it happen. “I was worrying a bit about the

responsibility of involving someone else in my problem, but

it's a very well-oiled machine at the hospital's renal unit

with a great success rate and Hilary wasn't worried. “It's

great to have someone who you know is completely committed to

it and who would follow it through and with the full support of

her husband Anthony.” Mrs O'Shea, a mother of two, said she

enjoys a glass of wine but has not touched a drop of alcohol in

the three months running up to the operation. The pair, who are

both in their 40s, met in the early 1980s when they were both

living in London. Mrs Valentine had booked a holiday to Africa

with her partner at the time but was left with no one to go

with when they split up. Mrs O'Shea said: “I was living with a

friend of her partner's and he mentioned that Frances had no

one to go on holiday with. I'd only met her a few times, but

jokingly said I'd go on a free holiday. “Four days later we

were on our way to Tunisia. The weather was miserable, but we

had a fantastic time. We've been friends ever since. We were

young, single women living in London. We had a great time.” A

few years later Mrs O'Shea went on holiday to Australia and

loved it so much she decided to live there. Mrs Valentine, a

mother of one, said: “I drove her to the airport and couldn't

stop crying. It was awful. But I knew we'd stay friends. Every

time we meet it's like we saw each other yesterday.” We have

always been there for each other Best friend, Hilary O'Shea The

duo were bridesmaids for each others, one in Melbourne in 1996

and the other in London in 1997, and have spent many a late

night or early morning chatting on the phone. Two years ago,

Mrs Valentine, who suffers with polycystic kidneys, was almost

put on dialysis, but managed to plough on through the headaches

and exhaustion without it. Doctors say if her friend had not

stepped in then she would almost certainly have had to endure

tri- weekly dialysis sessions. Mrs O'Shea said: “It wasn't a

difficult decision: my best friend needed help and I was in a

position to give it. “Even if I'd have had any doubts, just

being in the hospital and seeing all the people on dialysis and

how ill they looked would have been enough. “Frances looks

quite well at the moment but I'd hate the thought of her having

to rely on dialysis like that.” Mrs Valentine added: “Dialysis

is far from easy. I've managed to avoid it so far and it makes

me even more grateful to Hilary.” Surgeon Paul Lear, who

performed Mrs Valentine's operation, said: “We try to time the

transplant so that people are on the cusp of needing dialysis.

“If we didn't do the transplant now then Frances would probably

be on dialysis as her kidney function is below 10 per cent.

We're quite good at judging that here. “I've worked here for 17

years and we've had three or four international donors, but

Australia is the furthest. It's no different to donating here.

There are strict regulations and the donor undergoes the same

tests. Frances's progress will be followed up. She and Hilary

will be seen once here after the operation and any others will

take place in Australia. L iving donation is fairly

straightforward. As long as the blood group is compatible we

can usually proceed.” Last night Mr Valentine said the

operation had gone as well as everyone had hoped and both were

recovering in hospital. He said: “It seems like everything went

very well. Everyone seems to be smiling, which is always a good

sign.” Mrs O'Shea will spend another couple of days in hospital

before returning to Australia next month. Mrs Valentine can

expect to remain in hospital for two weeks to ensure there are

no post-op complications. She said: “Your family are more

likely to be a close match, but you don't have to be related to

donate. I don't think everyone realises that but it's important

they do.” For more information on National Transplant Week

visit www.uktransplant.org.uk.