'The biggest privilege of my life': Victorian woman gives the gift of life

When you first meet Victorian siblings Sarah Payne and Josh Riddell, you can tell they're very close — but their special bond actually runs much deeper.

Josh was first diagnosed with Lupus, an inflammatory autoimmune disease, when he was 18.

Big sister Sarah became his full-time carer, witnessing years of ill health and taking him to appointments for invasive treatments.

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"I had a massive carer role, I got made redundant because I was always at hospital and couldn't work effectively," she said.

Chemo also caused severe kidney disease.

"After all of that surgery and all the medications to keep him alive, that really affected his kidneys," Sarah said.

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"The chemo really tipped (his) kidneys over the edge."

Six years ago Josh became critically ill and he did palliative care at home.

"I chose to die here at home," he said.

The 31-year-old was given only two weeks to live.

"The logistics of planning a death are unbelievably confronting," Sarah said.

But Josh had a change of heart and decided to ditch palliative care, opting for dialysis, which improved his health.

But being hooked up to a machine multiple times a week was draining.

"It broke my heart," Sarah said.

"It's not a life, it was an existence, it's a subsistence, it's not a life."

Sarah soon convinced her younger brother to take her kidney.

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Josh was reluctant at first as it is an invasive procedure.

"Surgery is 50-50 no matter what to me, you either make it or you don't," he said.

Josh finally agreed and the surgeries were a success.

The siblings cried tears of relief when they realised they had both made it.

Around 1.7 million Australians are affected by kidney disease and a staggering 1.5 million don't even know they are living with early signs.

A person can lose up to 90 per cent of their kidney function before any symptoms show.

That's why for the month of October everyone is encouraged to step out in red socks for the Kidney Health Australia Red Socks Appeal.

The initiative helps to raise awareness and funds for those living with kidney disease.

And for these siblings, it's the gift that keeps giving.

Josh is now living independently and he has found love.

"It's the biggest privilege of my life to do something like that for the people I love," Sarah said.