Those were the joy and relief-etched words of a city mum after two years of anxiety and heartache came to an end as her daughter got her longed-for kidney transplant.

The Southwells' lives have been on hold as they clung to the hope that a donor would be found for 11-year-old Siobhan.

The fun-loving schoolgirl from Whittlesey, near Peterborough, was born with just one kidney and her remaining one was failing rapidly – meaning a transplant was her only chance of leading a normal life.

Her routine was a whirlwind of gruelling dialysis treatments three times a week, medication and endless appointments.

There were no holidays, and Christmas was a few snatched moments before she was hooked up to the machine again.

But at 2.45am on Saturday, the life-changing call they had been all been praying for came through on mum Sally's phone. She "froze" with disbelief when she heard the news.

Bosses at Great Ormond Street Hospital, in London, said the odds the organ was the right match were good. But, they warned there were were no guarantees, and there was a tense wait for the go-ahead. It finally came 17 hours later.

Today, as Siobhan recovers from the five-hour operation, Sally (43), of Quinion Close, said it had been a success and her daughter was smiling and chatting with nurses.

However, the next few days are critical as her body could still reject the new organ.

It may have been an early birthday present for Siobhan, who turns 12 in July, but Sally also revealed that the kidney came from a donor who had died over the weekend.

Speaking from Siobhan's bedside, she said: "I'm so pleased for Siobhan, but also, our hearts go out to the family of the person. They had a tragic loss.

"It is a very bitter-sweet weekend. We were over the moon for ourselves, but at the same time, our hearts go out to that family.

"I can't imagine how they must feel, but it's some comfort their child has helped another person. How can you say thank you? It's not enough."

She added: "Siobhan was quite quiet before the operation. She was nervous and apprehensive.

"I've seen her go into the operating theatre and it never gets any easier. She's doing really well. There were a few problems getting her off the ventilator. She was in intensive care, but she is back on the ward now.

"It's very early days. At the moment, everything is hunky dory.