It’s often described as “the gift of life”, but receiving a healthy organ from the love of your life may just be the ultimate act of selflessness.

That’s what happened to Victorian farmer, Natalie Hardy, whose husband Jono turned out to be a perfect tissue match.

For more than 25 years, Natalie and Jono have shared a love of their farm animals and a deep love for each other.

Through drought and downpour, they’ve been by each other’s side.

And last year, when life threw its biggest challenge their way, Jono gave Natalie the ultimate gift, a kidney.

Natalie found out she had Polycystic Kidney Disease, which causes fluid-filled sacs to develop and grow, damaging and enlarging the kidneys. Eventually, they cease to function, and patients need to go on dialysis.

At the same time, they’re placed on Australia’s organ donor register.

When Nat reached that point a year ago, Jono immediately started getting tests done to see if he could give her one of his kidneys. And it turned out he was a match.

The operation saved her, and it is giving both inspiration and hope to the thousands of Australians waiting for a transplant.

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