THE Mayor and Mayoress of Kendal will be spending their first Valentine’s Day apart in more than 18 years of marriage this weekend.

But Cllr Chris Hogg has given the ultimate Valentine’s gift after going under the knife to donate one of his kidneys to wife, Cllr Rachael Hogg.

The pair, who have a 16-year-old son, are recuperating after undergoing transplant surgery at Freeman Hospital in Newcastle last week.

And while they will not be reunited for more than a week after Chris contracted a minor infection, the operation was a success with both husband and wife recovering well.

Chris said he felt ‘quite elated’ when he initially came round from the operation on Friday.

“But after 10 minutes I started to get a stabbing pain, like how I imagine it would feel to be stabbed with a knife.

“I was wheeled down to see Rachael on the other side of the hospital. She was in pain as well but pretty well considering.”

Unfortunately Chris contracted a minor infection the day after the transplant, delaying his return home from hospital and preventing any more visits to Rachael.

“If Rachael caught this she’d be finished,” said Chris. “It’s frustrating not being able to see her but the kidney is working well, which is the main thing.”

Chris has since returned to the family’s home in Kendal, with Rachael due to leave hospital in the next few days before spending a week with her mother in Newcastle.

The operation marks the end of a long and emotional journey over several years since Chris made the decision to donate one of his kidneys to Rachael, and miraculously proved to be a match for her blood type – 0+.

He offered to be tested when it became clear Rachael’s health was starting to deteriorate and was in need of a new organ – 25 years after first contracting a virus while on holiday.

“People have been saying it’s amazing but I think everyone would do this for their family,” said Chris.

"If we can achieve something by encouraging more people to become potential donors then that will be an added extra."

The couple’s story led them to start the Kendal Donor Town initiative – using Chris’s year as Mayor to encourage as many Kendalians as possible to sign up to the Organ Donor Register.