THE decision by the family of a six-year-old boy to donate his organs after his death changed the life of a North-East youngster.

Rachael Johnson, 14, from Annfield Plain, Durham, and her family were told when she was two that her kidneys were not functioning.

She was put on dialysis treatment when she was just four years old, spending 13 hours a night on the machine at her home.

Rachael was also limited to what she could eat, and was not allowed to eat salted crisps, chocolate, anything salty or sugary - and even bananas were banned.

She was placed on the waiting list for a suitable kidney, which was found for her three years later, after three false alarms.

Rachael, a pupil at La Sagesse High School in Jesmond, Newcastle, said: "The dialysis treatment was very limiting, even though it was done at home. I couldn't go and stay with friends.

"We had three false alarms before a suitable kidney became available, and the fourth time I was called in was in the middle of the night. I was very nervous because I had been disappointed before. I know my kidney came from a six-year-old boy."

After her transplant, Rachael was out of hospital within nine days, and took part in her first ever Transplant Games in 1994, a year after her operation.

She is now taking part in this year's Asda Great North Millennium Transplant Games in Newcastle, in July.

Rachael has already won three silver medals at the games in the ball throw, table tennis and the 50m dash. This year she will be competing in the ball throw, badminton and table tennis events.

She said: "This is all possible because I was able to have the transplant. I would urge everyone to carry a donor card."

In February, The Northern Echo launched a campaign to mark the year 2000 by persuading at least 2,000 readers to carry organ donor cards.

The life-saving appeal was launched as part of our backing for the Asda Great North Millennium Transplant Games, which will bring together thousands of athletes who have undergone successful transplants.