Xena Mclane was diagnosed with vasculitis earlier this year after catching what she thought was a cold over Christmas, which escalated into her coughing up blood.

In January the 17-year-old was told she had the auto-immune condition and by April she was in a coma.

The Cavell Way resident said: “A transplant would mean that I’d have a life again.

VIDEO: Xena talks about her condition

“This auto-immune disease broke down my kidneys, and I didn’t have time to prepare or go on the deceased donor list.

“I’ve now got end stage kidney failure and will need to spend the rest of my life on dialysis.

“I’m in desperate need of a kidney.”

Despite taking 19 tablets a day to control the disease, Xena, who used to go to Fulston Manor School and now attends Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Faversham, is in high spirits: “I did go into school for my AS-levels and managed to come in the top third.

“I want to do immunology at university.”

The sudden onset of her condition changed Xena’s life dramatically after she ended up in hospital in January, coughing up “litres of blood” and requiring nine transfusions.

Her mum, Christine, a carer for her dad Ronald, said: “It’s been horrible. When she was in the coma, we didn’t know whether she’d be alive, or a vegetable.”

Xena, who speaks English and German, added: “I’m bilingual, and they didn’t know whether I’d be able to still speak both languages or just one.”

She was in a coma for a week after her organs began to fail due to the toxins in her blood.

Having undergone chemotherapy, she has been told she will spend the rest of her life on
dialysis if a donor is not found.

Neither her mum nor her dad was a suitable donor, as they are both type one diabetics, and her sister, Vanessa, 20, also was not able to donate.

Xena, who has to visit hospital three times a week, is now urging anyone who may be able to donate, to consider it.

She said: “If you can donate, please get in contact with Kent and Canterbury Hospital, and get a live donor form.

“At all points the donor comes first, and can back out at any time.

“If you’ve got family and your own children, do think about it first as you never know what could happen in the future.

“You don’t really have that much to lose if you do go for it.

“Please remember: you’re not donating an organ, you’re donating a life.”

For more on live kidney donation, contact Sarah Norris or Fiona Dunford at Kent and Canterbury Hospital on 01227 866347.