A DEVOTED stepdad gave a lifeline to his daughter – creating an eternal bond between them.

Robert Garrard, 68, of Spring Road, Tiptree, donated a kidney to his step-daughter, Melissa Waters, 38, earlier this year, proving you do not need to a blood relative in order to be a match.

Melissa, who now lives in Clacton, was born with one kidney and was diagnosed with chronic renal failure two years ago.

Until then she had never experienced any problems, but when she began feeling ill and extremely tired she went to see her doctor.

After having a number of blood tests she received a call to go back in straight away, it was then she knew something was wrong.

She said: “The doctor said I had stage five kidney failure – I was devastated.

“It was so out of the blue – I was 36 at the time and the one kidney had kept me going that long so I thought why now, how dare this disease come to me.

“I thought it would ruin my life but after the initial shock had gone I realised I had two choices – you let it dominate you or you carry on as best as you can, which is what I did.”

Melissa said she was beyond any help as the organ was only working at five per cent of its function.

Although dialysis was discussed, Robert stepped in and said he wanted to be her live donor.

He and his wife both went for tests but he was a good enough match.

He said: “If you know anyone whose going through the same thing then just go along and have the tests, even if you’re not blood related, because you never know.

“It was a shot in the dark but I feel great, she (Melissa) really feels like my daughter now.”

The operation was carried out at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, in Cambridge, in July and the duo have not looked back since.

There have been no signs of Melissa rejecting the organ, affectionately nick-named George which is Robert’s middle name, and she feels there is light at the end of the tunnel now.

She added: “I can face life again.

“I can’t put it into words how I feel about what dad did – it's amazing.”