The girlfriend of a young man who died while waiting for heart surgery has paid tribute to her “first love”.

Mikey Anderton, 31, passed away in his home in Charles Drayson Court, Faversham, on June 26.

The former Abbey School pupil was born with a Wilm’s tumour, a type of kidney cancer, and lost both kidneys by the age of one.

He had been on dialysis three times a week since the age of 13, when a transplant he had received aged two, during which he was given blood contaminated with Hepatitis C, failed.

Unable to work because of his dialysis treatment, which he received at Great Ormond Street and then Medway Maritime Hospital, he became a stay-at-home dad to girlfriend Hattie Cook’s nine-year-old son, Rohan.

Hattie, 31, of Priory Row, said: “Mikey was so brave - he never, ever complained about his condition.

“He loved all kinds of music, as well as Lego, which was a huge bond with Rohan, and they absolutely adored each other.

“I’d like to thank everyone for their support, he’ll be greatly missed by all who knew him and he’ll always be remembered for the smile on his face and the spring in his step.

“He was my first love.

“He had this illness but you would never know, because he was always getting on with everything. He was a great stepdad.”

Hattie, a childcare worker at Monks Hill Farm, met Mikey when they were both just 15.

They were teenage sweethearts who went their separate ways, but rekindled their relationship three-and-a-half years ago.

She says the days since Mikey’s death have been “like riding a wave”.

“Sometimes you’re okay and sometimes you’re drowning,” she said.

Mikey, who lived with his mother and stepfather, became ill with flu-like symptoms at Christmas and was taken to William Harvey Hospital by Hattie on Boxing Day.

It was discovered that he had a heart infection known as endocarditis, and he was placed in an induced coma before being transferred to King’s College Hospital in London.

He died while waiting for complex open heart surgery, which he had expected to undergo at King’s in June, but the surgery was delayed after a virus led to the ward being shut.

A massive Crystal Palace fan, whose matches he had attended whenever possible, Mikey was sent a get well card signed by manager Roy Hodgson and the entire team, organised by Hattie’s father.

He leaves behind his stepfather, David James.

His mother, Jasmine, tragically died in January while he was in hospital.

Mikey’s funeral will be held at Charing Crematorium on Thursday, July 26.

Donations to Kidney Research UK via www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mikeyanderton are requested in lieu of flowers.