Woman who lost fiance and had 78 operations has one final wish

Clare Griffin, 42, from Mere, is struggling with chronic kidney failure, having gone through 78 operations, including two kidney transplants.

She spends 4.5 hours a day on kidney dialysis three times a week at a Royal United Hospital clinic in Bathampton and has her 79th operation scheduled for Sunday (March 17).

Clare Griffin is trying to raise awareness of chronic kidney disease. (Image: Freelancer)

As millions of people celebrate World Kidney Day on Thursday (March 14), Clare wants to raise awareness of the debilitating impact chronic kidney disease has on sufferers.

The freelance riding school instructor, said: “I just want to raise awareness of chronic kidney disease. It is just not something that is spoken about often enough.

“If anything happens to me, I would like the money raised from Ethan’s appeal to go to Kidney Care UK as my legacy.”

Her former neighbour, Ethan Strange, has launched a £7,000 appeal to raise funds to fly Clare on a ‘dream’ holiday to St Lucia in the Caribbean.

Ethan, 32, who now lives in Ebbw Vale in south Wales, said: “My beautiful friend, one of the strongest and most inspiring women I have ever met, faces a terminal illness, chronic kidney failure stage five, and has battled it since only 12 years old and is now 42.

“She has never let her illness crush her positivity, but sometimes that positivity masks just how serious her condition is and she never asks for sympathy.

“She has raised money for the National Kidney Foundation UK, Kidney Care UK and walked a mile a day during January to raise money for kidney care charities.

“She puts everyone before herself, even with her chronic condition."

Clare’s health issues began when she was just 12 years old when she was diagnosed with kidney failure and was told she would need a transplant in the future.

In 2007, her mother Jennifer Griffin donated one of her kidneys to Clare, who was then aged 25, to give her a fresh start.

Ethan said: “Clare believed this was the beginning of a positive future and was filled with excitement. Sadly, this was not to last.”

Clare Griffin's fiance Michael Hillary who died aged 32 of sudden death syndrome. (Image: Freelancer)

Clare met her fiancé Michael Hillary but he died of sudden death syndrome at just 32, a devastating blow that still haunts her to this day.

Then she caught ecoli after eating a restaurant meal. This took its toll on her transplanted kidney which also failed.

“This meant she had no choice but to start dialysis three times a week with the process taking 4.5 hours per session, but it's the only thing keeping her alive,” said Ethan.

Clare underwent a second kidney transplant in 2022 when she was 40, but the new organ worked for only three days before it failed due to medical complications.

Clare Griffin in hospital after suffering a health setback. (Image: Freelancer)

Mr Strange said: “Clare spent three months in hospital and her only option was to return to dialysis. She had ports into her neck, directly into her heart, anywhere they could find a viable vein.

“She is on her last port. If it fails, that is it for Clare. She's out of options. This breaks my heart.”

Ethan decided to set up a GoFundMe page for Clare as her dream has always been to go on holiday to St Lucia in the West Indies.

“The issue is to receive her treatment whilst she is there, if she can go it will cost £6k, with the added expense of the holiday itself.”

The GoFundMe appeal has so far raised £1,637. To donate click here.