HE waited 12 years for a third kidney transplant but it never came.

East Anglian Daily Times: Daniel Wright, 30, died from renal failure on March 28 while waiting for a third kidney transplantDaniel Wright, 30, died from renal failure on March 28 while waiting for a third kidney transplant

Dad-of-one Daniel Wright, 30, spent the majority of his life battling against renal failure but lost his fight on March 28 at Ipswich Hospital with his family by his side.

Daniel had his first transplant aged five after a throat infection led to his kidneys becoming diseased.

His mum Deborah Wright, of Hogarth Road, Ipswich, said: “He contracted a throat infection when he was three-and-a-half and it completely calcified his kidneys within 10 days.

“From that point he was admitted to Great Ormond Street Hospital where he spent six months on emergency dialysis.

“He had his first transplant when he was five but it rejected after just 36 hours.”

Daniel underwent his second transplant when he was six which lasted until he was 18 before problems set in.

His dad David Wright, 60, added: “He had been on dialysis since then waiting for another kidney which never appeared.

“He had given up hope of a kidney coming because he had been waiting for so long.

“Everything had got on top of him over the past year and the dialysis had become more painful.”

Mrs Wright, 54, said her son was admitted to hospital on March 23 and died five days later.

“We knew it was coming but we put it to the back of our minds,” she added. “The doctors said they didn’t think he would get any better because he was too weak.

“I didn’t leave him when he was in hospital. He hated being on his own.”

The family are urging more people to become organ donors and help change other family’s lives.

Mrs Wright, 54, said: “A lot of people just don’t get round to joining the organ donor list but wouldn’t be opposed to it if it came to it.

“Daniel had been waiting so long this time for an O-type kidney, which is the most common, but we didn’t even get as far as a call for blood tests to see if he was a match in those 12 years.”

Emma Locksmith, 33, described her brother, who would have celebrated his 31st birthday today, as a “people person”.

“He was very family orientated and loved being around people all the time,” she said. “He crammed everything in to his 30 years and tried to live his life as best he could.”

His mum added: “He was forever phoning up or coming round. He didn’t like being on his own.

“He used to phone up all the time and that’s one of the things I really miss now.

“He loved going to the Margaret Catchpole to play snooker with his friends.

“When he was younger and had more energy, he was always out building dens, on missions and up to mischief – just doing what boys do.”

He leaves behind 12-year-old son Callum, parents David and Deborah, sister Emma and brother Matthew, 28.

Mrs Wright added: “Callum is putting on a brave face.

“He has written his dad a lovely poem that the vicar is going to read out during the service.

“We’re having a memory book at the service so people can write their favourite memories of his dad.”

- A celebration of Daniel’s life will be at Seven Hills Crematorium on Friday, April 19, at 3pm.

Everyone is welcome and are asked to wear bright colours.

Family flowers only but donations to the renal unit at Ipswich Hospital.

- Pay your tributes to Daniel Wright. Write to Your Letters, Ipswich Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or email starletters@archant.co.uk