Brave dad Ian Siddall has given his young son the gift of life by donating one of his kidneys in a double transplant operation.

Mr Siddall gave his kidney to five-year-old Ryan whose own organs were failing following complications while he was still in his mother's womb.

Ryan had faced the prospect of being put on dialysis, but both his parents were found to be suitable donors of their kidneys. Ian, though, was the closest match, and the pair underwent keyhole surgery at St James's Hospital in Leeds where both are now recuperating.

Today Mr Siddall's wife and Ryan's mum Rose, 44, said: "It was a very long and tiring day but everything went to plan and Ryan is doing fantastically.

"I can't believe how well he is doing the first thing he asked me for was a Big Mac!"

Mr Siddall, 42, of Buttershaw, Bradford, was the first to go down to theatre at 8.30am, followed by Ryan at 1.15pm. A tense day followed for Mrs Siddall who had to wait four hours for news that her husband had made it through the first operation well.

Doctors then found it difficult to get the kidney in place in Ryan due to its large size and it was not until after 6pm that the youngster was back in the paediatric intensive care department. "Less than 24 hours later there were good signs the kidney was working well," said Mrs Siddall. "It is still early days but just to hear Ryan asking for food is lovely.

"I was able to take Ian to see him on Sunday and that was nice. They have always been close but I think even that bond will be increased.

"To give part of yourself is the ultimate thing you can do."

Ryan was a miracle baby for the couple.

A scan carried out when Mrs Siddall was 22 weeks pregnant showed that his kidneys were larger than normal.

Doctors found he had a blockage in his urethral valves which prevented him from passing urine.

This was causing a build-up in his kidneys and damaging them and they were told that if they carried on with the pregnancy their son may die at birth.

The devastated couple were given a stark choice to let nature take its course, to attempt to carry out a bladder shunting operation in which a fine needle would be inserted through Mrs Siddall's stomach to drain the fluid from Ryan's bladder or to terminate the pregnancy.

After much soul-searching they decided that going through the pregnancy only to lose their baby would be too much to bear and although distressed by the decision they opted for termination.

But when the couple returned to hospital for the operation, a scan to find out the position of the baby showed the blockage had cleared.

The operation was cancelled and Ryan was born naturally at 35 weeks, weighing 6lb 6oz. However, the effect of the blockage meant Ryan still required an operation and left him with permanent damage to his kidneys.

Although Ryan has grown into a lively boy who is doing well at his school, Buttershaw Primary, his kidney problems mean he has spent a lot of time in hospital and is prone to infections because of a poor immune system.

He had been on the transplant list since last December waiting for a kidney but doctors also asked his parents if they would be prepared to donate a kidney.

They both agreed and after extensive testing it was decided that his father was the best match. He even undertook a strict diet, losing two stone, to make sure he was in the best physical shape to cope with the operation.

Mrs Siddall said her husband was experiencing some pain after the operation but it is hoped he will be allowed to return home within the next few days, with Ryan following in about two weeks' time.

She said: "We have to take Ryan back to the hospital for blood tests every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the next three months."

"We are going to have to get used to all the new medicines he needs but at the moment his body seems to be accepting them.

"This is not a cure for Ryan, it is just helping him stay off dialysis. The kidney will fail as a teenager because of the hormonal changes during puberty and he will need another transplant.

"That is why everyone is doing their best to get across the message that people need to sign up to the organ donor register.

"Before the operation Ian said if anything was to happen to him they could take everything.

"It is awful to have that conversation but you have to think of these things to help other people."