An inspiring Largs woman who has beaten skin cancer and had her leg amputated is facing up to a new challenge – finding a kidney match.

Beverley Nicolson has made an emotional plea in an online video to see if anyone can help her in her quest to find a new kidney – after twice seeing her hopes of a match dashed.

Beverley, 38, of Kelvin Street, has been on dialysis for three and a half years, and has been a type 1 diabetic since she was 15.

As well as having cataracts and skin cancer (melanoma), both of which she has beaten after treatment, courageous Beverley now hopes she can transform her life with a transplanted kidney.

She said: “I feel like a cat with nine lives. I found out in 2019, when I was 34, that my kidney was leaking protein, and had to get medication. Then when I was 36 I had to start dialysis.”

Twice Beverley thought a matching kidney had been but on each occasion a donation proved impossible – and she is hopeful it can be third time lucky with help from News readers.

She said: “My sister Haylie had a perfect match. Even the medics said that they had never seen such a perfect match.

“Unfortunately Haylie had trouble with bad kidney stones and therefore couldn’t donate.

“And recently I was offered another kidney but unfortunately the family of the donor withdrew at the last moment.

“I am now looking for people to get tested - it might not save my life but it could save someone else’s.

“I decided upon putting up a video on my Facebook page after being inspired by a friend who did the same thing in Greenock.

“It might not get a result for me, but it will give people something to think about – and hopefully it could help somebody else out there who needs a kidney if they get tested.

“It is getting to the point that I want my life back as I will be 40 next July and I want to be ready to start my life again and I am asking if people out there would like to get tested – it could save a life.”

Beverley used to work as an autism support worker, but has had to take a step back from work due to her health battles.

She lives in Kelvin Street with her 13-year-old rescue Staffie dog Juno, and has had great support so far from the Largs community - and hopes more people can come forward.

Beverley used to be part of the very successful Largs girls’ football team managed by Christine McAulay and Margaret Nicholson in the 1990s, and is a former pupil of Brisbane Pirmary and Largs Academy.

“Getting diabetes when I was only 15 was very tough,” she said.

“Few people spoke about it and it was a time when people didn’t open up about their feelings.

“I have opened up more and I thought about doing this video asking people to get tested to see if I could find a match.

“I figured ‘you don’t get if you don’t ask’, and if I never ask then I will never know.

“I have had a good response from people so far and some have said they will get tested.

“I think since Covid happened a lot of people have changed their thoughts, and people are a bit kinder and are looking at the bigger picture in life.

“If I could help anyone with anything I would, and that has always been my attitude.”

Beverley has also had to receive an amputation below the knee after she fractured a bone in her foot and it became swollen and she started to get a diabetic ulcer.

She now has a prosthetic leg, but loves being able to take her dog out for a walk after six sessions of physio.

Her mum, Cathy Anderson, and dad Sam Nicholson, live close by - and she has a lot of friends in the area who have been very supportive.

Beverley said: “Because I need a new kidney, and I am on dialysis three times a week, I am kind of restricted in what I can do.

“I am also restricted in what food I can take, and I can only drink one litre of fluids every day.

“I am hoping that my dream can come true and I can one day find my kidney match – and ideally I can have my life back by the time I turn 40.”

Beverley has urged anyone who can help by being tested to contact 0141 451 6200 or email ggc.renallivedonorteam@nhs. scot