DAVID MEIER was a 24-year-old who lived life to the full.

But after 13 years of suffering and two failed kidney transplants, he lost the will to live and died in his mother's arms after a massive heart attack.

The former Archbishop Holgate's School pupil underwent years of kidney dialysis, steroid treatments and two failed transplants after contracting a rare illness when he was 11 years old.

In the week before his death on September 16, David, who lived with his parents in Acomb Park, York, made his gruelling daily trip to St James's Hospital in Leeds for dialysis treatment.

His mother, Julie, said: "He came home and just threw the discharge papers on the floor. He was absolutely fed up with it. I undressed him and he got into bed.

"We were just talking like that because he was so worked up about it. He asked me to scratch his back and I just leaned over him and put my arms round him.

"Then he suddenly turned around and said he was dizzy and that was it."

David was diagnosed with the rare Henoch-Schnlein purpura, which caused spots and blisters on his legs, soon after leaving Osbaldwick Primary School.

He was rushed to hospital weeks later while on holiday in North Wales.

Only one per cent of sufferers develop chronic kidney problems as a result of the illness, but on David's 12th birthday doctors at St James's Hospital confirmed his kidneys had failed.

He had his first transplant aged 15, but his body rejected the organ and he had it removed a week later.

"When the kidney failed he was absolutely heartbroken," said Julie.

"He went in one Monday night and came out the next Monday, so it was major surgery."

Despite his illness David followed his dream of becoming a children's art teacher and loved to tell stories and jokes to his young nieces Katie and Emily.

His father, Michael, said: "He was always able to make us laugh. He had a great sense of humour. Even when he was in for an operation he made the jokes."

David achieved nine GCSEs during the year of his first failed transplant, and graduated in art and design at York College.

His brother, Martin, was due to give his own kidney to David in 1999, but another donor was found at the 11th hour.

"He just made the best of what he could and lived every day to the full," he said.

David also had a sister called Fiona.

In 2002, he went to Nottingham University to study design management and led a full student life until November 2004, when doctors discovered his kidney had failed again.

His condition deteriorated and doctors said they could not help him.

His sister-in-law, Joanne, said: "I said to David, please do not give up, there are too many people who love you. He said he wouldn't; but, as I looked at him then, I knew his heart was not in it.'"

Updated: 10:19 Monday, October 10, 2005