The kidney lasted 15 years before failing, forcing Mrs Macdougal to await a second transplant.

Suffering from chronic renal failure, the Launceston woman said she remained hopeful for a chance at a new life.

“One day I was a healthy 31-year-old and the next I was on dialysis,” she said.

“Receiving the first transplant gave me my life back, it was wonderful.

“Now I have to wait for that again.”

Mrs Macdougal now spends three days a week receiving treatment, which she said stops her from being able to do the things she loves.

“Your diet is impacted, exercise is impacted, you can’t drink. I’m on fluid restrictions,” she said.

“It just changes your whole life.

“If you want to go on a holiday for instance, you need to plan in advance so you can organise your treatment. A new kidney would mean I could visit my children in Queensland for more than two nights.”

Taking part in the Kidney Health Research Walk in Launceston on Sunday, she said she wanted people to realise just how common kidney-related disease was.

“People with renal failure quite often won’t talk about it,” she said.

“Nobody’s journey with kidney failure is the same and talking about it is how people find out more.”

Joined by her husband, Mrs Macdougal said she would continue to take part in the annual walk and raise awareness for the condition which kills 60 Australians every day.

Kidney Health Australia’s chief executive Mikaela Stafrace said of the estimated 1.7 million suffering from kidney disease, 1.5 million were unaware.

“Kidney disease is known as the silent killer because symptoms typically don’t appear until kidney function is almost completely lost, by which point it is too late,” Ms Stafrace said.

Opening the walk on Sunday, Health Minister Michael Ferguson presented three angel awards, which are given to community members who have contributed to helping those suffering from kidney related disease.

“The walk is a great chance for our community and those families and individuals living with chronic kidney failure to join together and support each other,” Mr Ferguson said.

“It provides us with the opportunity to share stories about family and friends living with chronic kidney health issues and rally support for programs and valuable research to continue to improve prevention, early detection and management of chronic kidney disease.”