I won back my lover by donating the kidney that saved her Gordon Henry donated his kidney to his ex-partner. Now they are in love again. Picture: Ross Parry Source: Snapper Media A SELFLESS father has won back his partner 20 years after they split - by donating his kidney to her. Gordon Henry, 53, has rekindled his love with Joanne Macfarlane following the extraordinary and brave gift that saved her life. The pair split in 1993 and lived 135 miles (217km) apart but stayed friends for the sake of their son, Jordan. When Mr Henry, a courier, heard his former love was in desperate need of a donor when a chronic kidney condition flared up again, he stepped forward to help. He offered one of his kidneys and went under the knife when doctors discovered he was a perfect match. Miss Macfarlane, 44, said: "He did it after all this distance between us for years. He risked his life to do it for me and Jordan. At first, I didn't think he would go through with it, but he went through all the tests and when he was nursing his own mother and having a tough time himself. He didn't look back. It was very strange. Everyone was saying he wanted to get back with me, even the nurses at the hospital, and I completely dismissed it. I've heard of couples getting back together after years of separation, but not this way. We've put everything that happened in the past behind us. Miss Macfarlane had her first transplant in 1988 at the age of 19 when a kidney was donated by her older sister Amanda Pilgrim. The pharmacy assistant separated from Mr Henry shortly after Jordan was born in 1993, but the pair remained on friendly terms. In 2004, she moved from her home in Reading, Berkshire, to be nearer her sister in Sheffield when the symptoms of her complaint started again. She underwent five gruelling years of dialysis until Mr Henry, who still lives in Reading, heard of her plight. After undergoing all the necessary tests, he donated his kidney to her in 2009 at Northern General Hospital in Sheffield, UK. The first signs of their old love returning came as they spent two weeks recovering in hospital, when they would visit each others' room every day to talk. The couple kept in more regular contact, and 18 months ago they decided to give their relationship another go. Mr Henry said: "Giving Jo a kidney was a chance to repay her for all she's done for our son, she's brought him up all these years. One of the strangest things about it was we had been apart for so long, but it definitely felt like the right thing to do. It is a fantastic ending. Miss Macfarlane, who spends her free time raising awareness of organ donations, is planning to move back to Reading. Son Jordan, now 19, said: "Mum is really happy now - I have seen a real difference in her since they got back together."