Austin’s grandmother Diane Townsend will meet with a surgeon in Melbourne to determine if her tissue is the right match to donate him a live kidney.

It is the last step in a long check-list of physical and emotional tests.

Ms Townsend, a cafe owner in Ballarat, said the reality of the surgery she was confronting was starting to sink in.

But she would do anything for her family.

“I had been blasé about it all.

“My kids are pretty nervous because it’s not just their nephew they’re worried about, it’s me too,” Ms Townsend said.

“I struggled through testing a lot more than I thought.

“It was a lot more gruelling and emotional than I thought it would be...My worst nightmare now would be if they tell me I was no longer able to donate.”

The family has known all along Austin would inevitably need a kidney transplant before he reached his teenage years.

When Austin was born, one kidney disappeared and the other, under-developed, has been hanging on.

Austin is now facing dialysis unless he finds a suitable donor soon.

Life has been lots of trip to the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne.

Moving to Portland, by the sea air, has improved his condition slightly.

Austin’s condition also means he has no appetite.

He is tube-fed every night from 10pm to 2am.

Ms Townsend said last Christmas was emotionally hard.

Austin could not stand to be around the smell of lunch.

A new kidney should restore Austin’s appetite.

Ms Townsend had been prepared to risk her Ballarat coffee shop business to take the required, extended period off work to recovery from her surgery.

Her customers and family have rallied behind her to ensure the cafe will stay open, which in turn means more fundraising money can support Austin and his immediate family.

Ms Townsend said new customers and regulars chipping in change had created a steady stream of income in the past two months.

Austin’s mum Renee has fibromyalgia, chronic widespead pain, which can take its toll on trips to Melbourne for Austin’s check-ups.

A fund-raising entertainment afternoon will be held in Ballarat this weekend to help cover Ms Townsend and Austin’s post-surgery costs.

Details to support Austin and his family are online: gofundme.com/zzgbzew4.