UNLESS you knew Karen Hatchard’s medical history, you would never know anything was wrong.

The glamorous 57-year-old mum looks full of the joys of spring.

But that’s because she spends ten and a half hours every night attached to a dialysis machine that helps to keep her healthy.

For Karen has chronic kidney disease which means she can never spend more than a few nights away from home and foreign holidays are no longer viable.

“I used to love travelling but it isn’t really possible now. There are some perks though,” she adds with a smile.

“I never need to get up to use the loo at night and I don’t ever have to use public toilets either!”

Karen’s story came to light after her daughter Naomi Chetland nominated her for a Mother’s Day competition winning a family three-course meal at Bournemouth’s Royal Bath Hotel.

“Mum can never go too far because she’s on dialysis so I thought she deserved a treat. She never complains and is always cheerful – she is a real inspiration,” said Naomi.

Karen has peritoneal dialysis – an alternative to haemodialysis though it is far less common.

Fluid is introduced through a permanent tube in the abdomen and flushed out while she sleeps.

Karen explains: “It means that you don’t have to go to hospital because you can have the treatment at home and do it yourself.”

Her condition was first diagnosed around 20 years ago following numerous tests.

“I kept feeling tired all the time and they discovered that I had high blood pressure and I was told to take a holiday!

“But I kept getting worse and they did more tests and discovered I had a rare hereditary kidney disease.” [Karen’s father was later diagnosed with the same illness].

“What I found hard to get my head around at first is the fact that I was having all this treatment but wasn’t actually getting any better – it just stops you getting worse – but it has become a way of life now and you get used to it.”

Karen had a kidney transplant in 1996 but then suffered with post transplant lymphoma so she had to come off the medication and go back to dialysis.

Although she is on the waiting list for another kidney donor, it has to be an almost perfect match to reduce the risk of the cancer returning.

“I am still able to lead a fairly normal life though and I am so grateful to the hospital staff because you never get a chance to say thank you properly because you know it won’t be long before you see them again.

“So on behalf of all chronically ill patients in Poole and Bournemouth I would like to say how much we appreciate them.”