A young mother must raise �40,000 for a life-saving kidney operation that is not available in the UK.

Michelle Oury, from Southam in Warwickshire, has antibodies in her blood that means she cannot have a normal kidney transplant.

Michelle developed the condition giving birth to her 7-year-old daughter, Shannon.

Her best hope for survival is a treatment that has been pioneered in the USA.

I'm a bit scared in case she's going to die Michelle Oury's 7-year-old daughter, Shannon

Michelle has been undergoing kidney dialysis for 12 hours a week for the last seven years.

She says her health has now begun to deteriorate noticeably, but the young mother is trying to stay upbeat.

"It does frighten me about leaving Shannon - I want to be there for her and my family", she said.

"But if I don't think about it then it doesn't bother me."

Daughter's fear

Frustratingly, although Michelle's sister Corin Sheasby is an almost perfect match for a kidney donation, the antibodies her sister developed during birth mean she would reject the organ.

Corin says the family is desperate to help Michelle: "We'd do anything, anything at all to raise the money.

"I'd jump out of an aeroplane or whatever just to raise the money."

Michelle's daughter Shannon sees the problem through the eyes of a 7-year-old.

"I'm a bit scared in case she's going to die," she said.

"I don't want to leave my mum."