Ten people have already come forward offering to donate their kidney to a man who suffered a double renal failure after the mother of his son posted an advert asking for an organ in return for €5,000.

“The response was amazing... A mother of two called saying she would give two kidneys if she could... I wish I could find words to describe the gratitude I have towards the Maltese,” Sarah Borg said.

Her 10-year-old son Zac, whose father Chris Bartolo needs the kidney, added: “With the support of the people we’re moving on... We don’t only want a kidney for my father. Many other people suffer from renal problems… If you can’t help my father, maybe you can help them. They need it too,” he said.

Earlier this week Ms Borg went to visit Mr Bartolo in hospital after his seventh operation in the span of a year. Seeing the once healthy 30-year-old become weaker and paler caused her to break down.

She decided she had to do something and posted an advert on Malta Park, an online trading site, asking for a kidney in return for €5,000.

The money is aimed to cover expenses incurred by a donor who would have to stop working for about six weeks. Her actions are not illegal as there is no legislation in place regulating the matter.

As the media picked up the story on Thursday, several people contacted Ms Borg to donate a kidney.

The next step involves the potential donors going to hospital to carry out tests to ensure they are compatible and healthy.

Ms Borg has known Mr Bartolo since she was 13. The two were a couple for six years and have a son, Zac. Although they are no longer together, and both are in different relationships, they remained close friends.

Mr Bartolo also has a nine-month-old son, Daniel, with his girlfriend, Anna Galea, who is supportive of Ms Borg’s efforts.

“What Sarah is doing gives me courage. My son was born in this situation, but Zac is 10 and remembers his father healthy... Saying thank you is not enough for Sarah,” Ms Galea said, as she looked at Ms Borg with tears in her eyes.

Mr Bartolo and Ms Borg explained that when they broke up they decided to remain friends out of respect towards their son.

They agreed they were lucky that Ms Galea understood their relationship.

“I always told him: Chris, she’s a diamond, do not lose her. Anna could see that past is past and present is present,” Ms Borg said.

Ms Galea, who had been with Mr Bartolo for over three years, added: “Why should I live in the past? Sarah was always respectful and good to me. I appreciate that Zac accepted me too when I was pregnant.”

The women agree this experience has brought them closer.

“We are now like a large family,” Ms Galea said, as Zac added: “It’s like the families are sisters.”

Ms Borg then said: “That’s what I tell her... I don’t have a sister and she became my sister.”

Mr Bartolo was diagnosed with double renal failure in January last year, just a month after his younger sister died of a brain tumor. Since then he had to quit his two jobs. At the time Ms Galea was pregnant with their son Daniel. Life has clearly been harsh to this young family. What keeps them going?

“You walk hand in hand, day by day and move forward. You can’t look back,” Ms Galea said.