The 43-year-old from Rudheath has had kidney failure since she was 16 and has had three transplants which have failed.

But this didn't stop Alan Spencer from proposing to her on Valentine's Day of this year - he even offered her one of his kidneys.

"Rose was very poorly shortly after I met her about 20 months ago," said Alan, 51, who now lives with Rose at Heathcote Gardens.

"She was having a bad time in hospital so I thought I'd find out what was involved in her having my kidney.

"They told me it would hurt, that there would be some inconvenience and a scar. But at the end of the day my life would not be affected, yet Rose's would be, that's the big thing.

"We were disappointed when we found out my kidney wasn't compatible. The operation would have enhanced both our lives.

"Rose is just such a lovely person. She looks after me and I look after her.

"It is hard - I'm still getting used to the side effects she suffers from her treatment and it's difficult to do every day things like go to the pub or go away for a long weekend.

"We just have to live for today. Rose knows dialysis is keeping her alive but she's always hopeful that a new kidney is just round the corner."

The couple shared their plight across the country on Sunday night when they appeared on BBC's Heart of the Matter - a debate on the possible consequences of legalising the selling and buying of human organs.

"The BBC wanted someone who was at the end of their tether with dialysis and that's me," said Rose.

"Having my blood sucked out of my body three times a week, itching to death from the treatment, being too tired to do anything and losing my hair - sometimes I think I just don't want to go to hospital. It's the mental torture too - wanting to rebel but having to stay determined.

"You do live with the threat of death - with every mouthful and sip of drink. Socialising is very difficult because I'm only allowed 500mls of fluid a day so a pint is out of the question - I would be dead. I suck ice cubes if I go out.

"And I can't eat anything I enjoy like chocolate and crisps - it's a second class life."

Rose agrees that the concept of a kidney trade is abhorrent in principle, but wouldn't think twice about paying for one.

"One of the strongest arguments is that the poor would be exploited," she said.

"But if a couple had a sick daughter and couldn't afford to treat her, why shouldn't they be able to sell one of their kidneys, with strict medical back up? Otherwise we both could die waiting.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.