Businessman Brian Toms had known for about 20 years that some day he could need dialysis after being diagnosed as suffering from high blood pressure.

The Smith's 51-year-old said he was prepared for the fact because of the warning, but never believed the day would arrive as it actually did.

About three or four years ago, he underwent tests and was told that he still had 40 percent kidney function, which was sufficient to last him for a while. Happily, he continued about his life.

However, just a year or so later, the situation changed dramatically.

Just a day after a major operation to replace a heart valve, Brian suffered massive kidney failure and found himself immediately on dialysis.

Not only did he have to get over a serious operation, but he was facing another problem, too.

"I have to be honest, it was a bit of a shock," said Brian, who had a young son at the time.

"I came back to Bermuda and went to dialysis. It was very traumatic recovering from a heart operation and having dialysis, as well. But after a few months I got comfortable with it, and some days I even looked forward to going."

Brian, who is president of Teachers Rugby Club, was on dialysis for about a year.

A beer drinker, the kidney failure meant he had to change his tipple to vodka and tonic, as the condition meant his fluid intake had to be hugely reduced to enable the dialysis machine to regulate his fluids.

He went from drinking beer three or four times a week, to instead going out for cocktails at happy hour after a dialysis session.

And his regular business trips became increasingly more complicated, too.

He added: "Whenever I travelled, I had to find and arrange a dialysis unit wherever I went. It could be difficult, and of course, we had to make sure that the unit was right for me."

Marianne Herbert, coordinator at the dialysis unit in Bermuda, said she remembered some of the difficulties she faced in trying to connect Brian up with facilities around the world.

"I remember in a space of two or three months, Brian dialysed in Bermuda, England, Wales, the US, and then we were even looking for a unit in Hong Kong. It was sometimes a difficult process, but it had to be done" she said.

"We needed to find a unit that was able to take him that was near to where he was staying."

Brian was on dialysis for a year, and had been on the transplant waiting list for just three months, when he got a knock at the door saying his time had come.

Two policemen arrived at his home at 1.30 a.m. and asked if anybody at the residence needed a kidney.

He immediately called Philadelphia, where he had had his initial tests done, and was informed that they knew nothing about a donated kidney. He then called Boston and realised it was them who had a suitable organ from someone who had died in Oregon.

Ms Herbert said: "It was a chance in a million for Brian because normally donated organs are offered first to people nearer to where they have come from, provided there is a match.

"However, this particularly kidney was not a match for anyone on the west coast of the US, so it was offered to Brian. It was like winning the lottery."

Brian said: "At first, I felt apprehensive. I started to think that dialysis was not that bad. I felt guilty that I was a new guy on dialysis and was getting a new organ, when some people had been waiting for five years or more.

It was just a case of this kidney being a suitable match for me."

However, within just a few hours, Brian was in Boston and undergoing the transplant.

He experienced several complications after surgery, resulting in a seven-week stay in hospital, and although at first he felt ill and wished he had not gone through with it, he soon began to feel positive.

The father said it was not long before he had forgotten all the pain and suffering and was enjoying his new lease of life.

And the best thing since, he said, was that he could travel again without any problems or complications.

"I think the transplant was difficult at the time, and it was quite an ordeal, but then you have to forget about it and get on with your life," he went on.

"Possibly about three months after, I went back to work. Things got better. The important thing for me was having friends and family to support me.

"I think what happened was a blessing in disguise. You have to change your life after the operation. I now have a better diet and I walk more. I have a couple of glasses of wine every week, and drink non-alcoholic beer.

"My son is ten and I play cricket and baseball with him most weekends. I feel great.

"When you are in your 20s and 30s, you think you are invincible, but what happened to me can happen to anyone.

"I would urge people to consider organ donation and talk about it with their families. They could be the ones who are in need, or they could one day be the ones who are in the unfortunate position where they are asked to consider donating a loved one's organs. They should at least talk about it."