Jul 7, 2004

A West Coast woman is giving her partner much more than just a ring as an engagement present.

Mel Beck has agreed to donate one of her kidneys to save fiancé, Jarrod Fitzgerald, from a life on dialysis.

She said she took the decision to find out if she was a suitable donor without Fitzgerald's knowledge.

"I thought well I'd just go and rule myself out or find out one way or another and sure enough I passed the first test, passed every other test," she told One News.

Beck turned out to be the perfect match and agreed immediately to undergo the surgery, an act of generosity which left her partner of four years speechless.

"Well I can't thank her enough really. I just love her to pieces. The first time I ever met her we just clicked. From that day on I kept falling in love with her even more. So just to have someone so special do that for me it's good," said Fitzgerald.

The local community in Fitzgerald's home town of Kumara has got behind the couple, raising thousands at an auction to pay for the couple to recuperate in comfort after the operation in six weeks time.

Fitzgerald said he was touched by the generosity of the town.

"It's mindblowing. I can't thank them enough. I don't even know how to thank people," he said.