A COUPLE who made headlines after the wife gave a kidney to her husband has suffered a bitter blow after he was diagnosed with cancer.

Bryony and Matthew Baynes were delighted at the success of the transplant, after Mrs Baynes agreed to be a living donor to end her husband's 20-year struggle with chronic kidney disease.

But 18 months later 54-year-old Canon Baynes has been diagnosed with stomach and oesophageal cancer and now faces a gruelling 18 weeks of intensive chemotherapy.

Mrs Baynes, headteacher at Kempsey Primary School, said: "Having been over the moon about the success of the transplant, it has been a bit of a fall back to earth.

"Our worlds have been turned completely upside down."

The couple underwent the transplant at the end of 2015 after Canon Baynes, rector of the Bredon group of parishes, was told he was in end-stage renal failure.

Mrs Baynes said: "The transplant was incredibly successful.

"His kidney function just before the cancer was discovered was the best it's been in 25 years.

"He felt healthy and fitter than he's ever been."

The cancer was found just a few weeks ago after doctors investigated what the couple thought was a slight reaction to anti-rejection drugs.

Mrs Baynes said she was realistic about Canon Baynes's diagnosis but had not given up hope.

But her family suffered another shock, in what they are calling the "triple whammy", as she also needs an operation to rebuild her spine which is crumbling from osteoporosis.

Mrs Baynes, aged 55, said: "We all feel like it's a bit unreal.

"We've had a lot of tears. I don't think there's been a day when I haven't cried but we've had a lot of laughs too.

"It's made us realise how lucky we are as a family."

The couple's three children have decided to raise money for three charities important to the family, Kidney Research UK, Cancer Research UK and the National Osteoporosis Society.

The three Baynes children - Bronwen, aged 27, Megan, aged 23, and David, aged 22, - will take on the Three Peaks Challenge.

Megan will also run the Norwich Half marathon this week alongside Lisa Williams, a teacher from Kempsey Primary, in a challenge she has dubbed: "The Triple Whammy - Team Baynes."

Describing her running prowess as 'laughable', Miss Baynes said she signed up for the challenge to support her parents.

Mrs Baynes said: "They are incredible kids.

"Their first thought was for their dad and then their second thought was, 'what can we do?'

"The money they raise isn't going to fix dad but it might help other people in the same situation.

"I'm really proud of them."

She added: "I'm a little bit cross with him upstairs.

"I do feel it's a bit unfair but then then what about the mother who loses her child or the wife whose husband has a heart attack?

"It's a very cruel world but my eldest daughter said, 'I don't think we realised how lucky we were before.'"

"It's made us realise how lucky we are to have such amazing children.

"We have had an incredible 30 years together."

Anyone who wants to support Megan's run, can visit virginmoneygiving.com/megan.baynes