Triplet who desperately needs kidney transplant ...just like her sister had

As they cuddle up and pose for the camera, triplets Daisy, Amber and Lola Collins look utterly angelic.

- WARREN MANGER

The 11 year olds, who have just started secondary school, are always going to stand out, but behind the bright eyes, fresh faces and flowing blonde hair lies heartache.

Their family has been fighting a battle for virtually all the girls' lives - and it is far from over.

Mercifully, Lola has been blessed with good health but Daisy and Amber, who are identical twins, both have a devastating kidney condition that was diagnosed when they were just two.

Three years ago, Daisy had a transplant and now Amber desperately needs one from a live donor - and not her parents to save her life.

Daisy and Amber have endured dozens of hospital admissions and thousands of hours of dialysis to clean their blood. Speaking ahead of Organ Donation Week, which starts tomorrow, mum Lucy, of Umberleigh, Devon, says: "We want a future for Amber and our family. We never talk about next year.

"At night, we talk about tomorrow. That's why we attach Amber to a machine every evening. That's why she has injections and takes fists full of tablets every day - to have a tomorrow."

Lucy, 40, says it has been hard for Amber to see Daisy get on with her life after the transplant.

"They have always been incredibly close. They still can't settle when they are apart if Amber goes into hospital."

The twins both developed nephrotic syndrome a kidney disease that causes too much protein to leak into their urine.

This leaves insufficient protein in their blood to reabsorb water from the body, causing swelling, infections and raised blood pressure.

Finally, their kidneys failed.

Daisy had a kidney transplant from a family friend at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital.