"I've got my life back": Father to celebrate first Christmas since life-saving kidney operation in Oxford

A father from Windsor is set to celebrate his first Christmas since a life-saving kidney transplant at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford.

Michael Murray had polycystic kidneys which left him feeling ill and exhausted.

But eight months since his operation he is feeling full of energy.

Michael's wife Gail was prepared to donate her kidney, but unfortunately was not a match.

So the couple joined the UK's Living Kidney Sharing Scheme, which matches a pool of living donors with people in need.

Participating in the scheme is often much faster than waiting on the normal transplant list.

Gail gave her kidney to a stranger as part of the scheme which meant her husband was able to find a transplant match in months.

He says it has "given him back his life".

The couple from Windsor in Berkshire are now urging other people to consider donating their kidneys to help those in need.

The Churchill Hospital has this year carried out its 5,000th kidney transplant operation.

Michael and his family are now preparing for the trip of a lifetime to New York, which would have been unthinkable a year ago.