A GWENT woman who is waiting for her fourth kidney transplant in 10 years is backing a campaign to help other people who need an organ donation.

On Tuesday the Organ Donor Register celebrated the 10th anniversary of its launch and hundreds of NHS staff, students, families of donors, and recipients rallied in London's Trafalgar Square as part of a big publicity push to encourage a million more people to join the register.

Ten years ago, 42-year-old Maureen Hendon from Malpas, Newport, was told by doctors she had to go on a dialysis machine and wait for a new kidney.

Since then she's had three new kidneys, which have lasted four years; a few months; and just a few days respectively.

Mrs Hendon, who is an electoral officer with Monmouth county council, said: "People think that when you have a transplant all is well, but I have had quite a disastrous time.

"I did all you're supposed to do, but sometimes it doesn't work out." Mrs Hendon has been on dialysis - eight hours every night - since January 2003.

That entails being attached to a machine by tube from her stomach, as well as taking drugs and fluids.

Now she's the secretary of the Welsh Kidney Patients' Association, and says it's crucial that as many people as possible joining the register. "What is also vital is that would-be donors tell their family about their decision - if they don't, the request to use organs could be refused by their friends and family, who are obviously in a very distressed state," she said.

"If people are able to, they should join the register," she added Mrs Hendon found out at the age of 16 that she only had one kidney, but for years it made little difference to her life. Then she was struck down with a debilitating illness at the age of 32.

"It's actually not that uncommon to be born with only one kidney and you can be fine, but unfortunately I also had high blood pressure which put additional strain on the one organ, with the result it became prematurely worn out,"she said.

Just five per cent of her kidney's capacity to function remained. Now, despite an initially successful transplant in 1995, which lasted four years, she's in the same situation.

Two further attempts haven't worked out. It's left Mrs Hendon once again waiting for the call to tell her another suitable kidney is available.