PLUCKY youngster Max Price finally had his kidney transplant operation last night after more than three years of waiting.

Weymouth boy Max, who turns four next month, has spent most of his young life fighting chronic renal failure and yesterday (Weds Jan 4) mum Michelle got the call she had been waiting for.

Her and dad Shaun rushed up to London after being phoned to say a donor organ had been found and it was finally time for Max to have the potentially life changing procedure.

Michelle said she got the call shortly after 9am and had to pick her son up from All Sorts pre-school at Beechcroft Primary School before heading up to Evelina Children's Hospital at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital.

She said: “We just literally had to pack a suitcase and we were off.

“It doesn't seem real.”

Michelle, 34, said she was expecting the procedure to take place last night.

Speaking before the operation, Michelle said: “It should be tonight because it's a deceased donor and we haven't got a lot of time.”

Michelle's dad Paul Allington, from Portland, confirmed this morning that Max had gone in for his six-hour operation at about 8pm and all the early signs suggested that it had been a success.

He said: “It went very well as far as I'm aware, he's in intensive care now and when he first came out he was on a ventilator and he was sedated but they've since taken him off it.

“He's now breathing for himself and when he woke up the first thing he asked for was a can of coke and said 'can I stand up please'.

“The early signs are very good.”

Mr Allington said it was now up to them to rally round and support Max, Michelle and Shaun through the next few weeks, particularly when it came to caring for Max's siblings Chloe, Jack and Kacey.

He said Max was expected to spend around ten days in London following the procedure before spending five to six weeks at Southampton Hospital.

Mr Allington said: “It's a big strain on the family but we are a big family and we have got plenty of support.”

Mr Allington, 58, said he was confident the brave youngster would cope with ordeal of the operation and the weeks of treatment to follow.

He said: “He's a fighter and he's had so many operations already and he's bounced back every time so I've got every confidence in him.”

The Echo first covered Max's story three years ago and his tale prompted the paper to launch it's Gift of Life Appeal, which inspired more than 1,000 people to sign up to the NHS Organ Donor Register.

The local community has also supported Michelle and Shaun in their efforts of caring for Max, with a number of fundraising events many of which were organised by granddad Mr Allington.

He said: “I have been fundraising for three years and the help we have had from the local community has been fantastic and this is what it has all been for.”

Team Max on Twitter

last night the social networking site Twitter was inundated with good luck wishes for baby Max. His sister Chloe was sending messages to followers to keep them updated.

All messages are currently tending under the heading #TeamMax To read our live feed of these messages view the live feed below.