An "inspiring" Royal Stoke nurse of 18 years is now waiting for a life-saving double organ transplant.

Joanne Blackburn, 44, works on the hospital's Critical Care Unit but for the last two years has also been on the waiting register for a kidney and pancreas transplant. 

Diagnosed with diabetes at 17, Joanne's health has now deteriorated to the point where she will soon need dialysis unless a transplant can take place. 

Joanne said: "I don't know how long I can live like that. Every month I send my bloods off to check for a tissue match. 

"It could take years, you're just waiting and hoping for the phone call. 

 "I'm a positive person and love my job, but I wake up most mornings thinking I didn't get a phone call overnight, so I just get up and carry on."

The mother of three says the transplant waiting list has changed the way she looks at her future with Christmas planned in September, incase she doesn't "make it that far". 

Joanne works at the Critical Care Unit at the Royal Stoke. (LDRS)

Joanne added: "I constantly do memory things with my kids like making blankets so they'll have something to hold onto if anything happens to me. 

"I'm very open with them and they know the risks, even going through a transplant could kill me.

"I keep smiling because there's no point being depressed about it, but I do feel like mortality hangs over me every day."

Clare Neeson is a specialist nurse for organ donation who has worked with Joanne on critical care for a number of years.

She said: "Joanne is one of the strongest people I know, she just keeps going and always turns up giving the most amazing care to our sickest patients. 

"I'm in awe of her and just want this transplant to happen so she can have the healthy life she deserves."

In the last year within the NHS trust running the Royal Stoke, 95 people received a life-saving or life-changing transplant and 116 had their sight restored through cornea donations. 

Dr Prabhjoyt Kler, consultant in critical care and anaesthesia and clinical lead for organ donation, said: "Joanne is an exceptional nurse and colleague, and we are so proud of the courage she shows every single day. 

"Despite everything she is going through she continues to give so much to her patients and her team which is truly inspiring."

To find out more about how to register for organ donation click here.