Renal patient Chris Bartolo is clinging on to hope as tests are being carried out on a relative to determine whether he can safely donate a kidney to him.

They need to carry out further tests

The relative is compatible with Mr Bartolo but doctors are worried he might not be fit enough to have the operation, explained Mr Bartolo’s former partner Sarah Borg.

“Back in August, we were told if results are positive we were looking at a January transplant but we heard nothing…

“Eventually, Anna (Galea, Mr Bartolo’s current partner) was told only one person had tests which proved positive.

“However, heart results are not as expected and they need to carry out further tests on the prospective donor.”

Last February, Ms Borg and Ms Galea began a campaign to find a life-giving kidney for their children’s father, whose health was deteriorating rapidly.

“So, we continue to pray and live in hope,” said Ms Borg.

About six months ago five friends and relatives of Mr Bartolo had tests to establish compatibility. Two had been ruled out since their blood type did not match. The other three went on to do more tests.

It now results that, from those, only one was compatible to donate his kidney.

In March, the hospital’s Live Organ Transplant Advisory Committee had not allowed 20 potential donors, strangers to Mr Bartolo, to even start the screening process after they had offered to donate their kidneys.

Ms Borg had placed an advert asking for a kidney, offering to pay €5,000 to cover medical and other expenses.

An ethical controversy was sparked off in the media over whether money should be accepted, although she stressed she was not trying to buy an organ.

The advisory committee had decided this would go against the principle of “distributive justice” adopted when anonymous people offer to be donors.

In such cases the kidney should go to the person most in need.