A WOMAN who has been told she can never have children is making a desperate appeal for an egg donor to come forward to give her a once-in-a-lifetime chance to become a mother.

Mrs Tina Tonge, of Woodhill Street, Bury, has been waiting five years for IVF treatment. But this week doctors told her that her eggs were not fertile.

She now faces at least another four years on the waiting list for an egg donor, unless she can find one herself.

Mrs Tonge (34) found out she had blocked fallopian tubes when she was in her mid-20s meaning she would never be able to concieve naturally.

Last December she started the treatment at St Mary's Hospital in Manchester under top ferility expert Dr Brian Lieberman. And up until Tuesday she was told by consultants all was going as planned.

Mrs Tonge said: "I was devastated when the consultatant told me that my eggs would not respond to the treatment. All my hopes of having a child through IVF were shattered.

"I had gone through weeks of treatment, only to be told my eggs were not fertile."

Mrs Tonge added: "If I can find a donor to come forward then I can go straight back on the treatment and not have to wait at all."

She stressed: "I only need a donor to replace the eggs I would be using so it would not affect the waiting list."

Mrs Tonge, who works as a machinist in Bolton, said she has had offers from friends and relatives, but their eggs cannot be used because they do not meet the criteria.

An egg donor has to be between the ages of 34 and 36, in good health and be willing to give up three weeks of their time to undergo treatment.

She added: "I feel as if I have so much to give as a mother and there must be someone who will be able to help me."

Dr Liz Pease at the hospital said: "There is a national shortage of donors willing to give eggs which means there is a long waiting list."

She confirmed that if Mrs Tonge could find her own donor then she could start the treatment immediately.

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