LITTLE Riley Greenwood needs a new kidney to lead a normal life.

The three-year-old is spending 10 hours a night, six days a week, hooked up to a dialysis machine. As he sleeps, the machine is keeping him alive by doing the work of his kidneys, which are functioning at just 15 per cent.

Doctors told Riley’s family he needs a transplant — and his mother Stacey today backed an M.E.N. campaign to urge more people to join the organ donor register.

The family is waiting for test results to determine whether his condition is hereditary. If it is, doctors would recommend a kidney from another source because there is more chance an organ from Riley’s family would be rejected by his body. He would then be placed on the organ donor register — becoming one of 346 people in Greater Manchester waiting for a new kidney.

Stacey, 21, a teaching assistant from Shawclough near Rochdale, said: “If he has to go on to a waiting list it could take any length of time. It is not first come, first served. It is the best kidney for the best match. You could be waiting years.

“He needs a transplant to survive ultimately. He could live on dialysis for the rest of his life but if he gets a transplant, it will give him a chance of a normal life.

“I would love to swap bodies with him. He never seems to complain about anything. He knows what his machine is for and he knows what it is doing. He knows where in his body his kidneys are and he knows that he needs a new kidney. A transplant would open the rest of his life up for him.”

Stacey added: “I think signing the organ register should be mandatory. It should be an opt-out situation. Not enough people sign up because they do not think about it. But signing up can saves lives.”

To help, go to www.organdonation.nhs.uk , or telephone 0300 1232323