Organ Donation

[Sunshine]

I am so pleased that organ donation, wef next year, will become automatic, unless one opts out. This is already the case in Wales. Next of kin will be allowed to refuse the organ donation of their loved one if they wish. This is why I’d urge everyone to sign up on the organ donation register and tell their family and friends, if it is something they wish to do. There are so many people, who’s lives are put on hold as they wait for donated organs. (my son included, who is waiting for a double lung transplant). As the current rules stand, it must be so very difficult to make the decision wether or not to allow your loved ones organs, to be used, to give another person/persons the chance of life, when you have just lost your own loved one. Medical science has grown so much, which allows patients a good quality of life after another person dies. Sadly there are many patients on the donor waiting list who die before a donor organ becomes available, or who get too ill to undergo the transplant, because they have been waiting so long. So, please, tell your friends and family if you would like to become an organ donor after your death and make sure you sign up on the Organ Donor Register.

https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk

[Oma]

So agree Sunshine

[Gemini]

Sunshine this is such an important topic. Making donating automatic unless you chose to opt out is a much better idea.

My thoughts are with your son, and I hope he has his transplant soon.

[Sunshine]

Thankyou Gem.

[Mimi]

I’ve been on the organ donation list for many years and I have told my family my wishes.

DIL’s mum, my best friend, was able to have a few extra precious years thanks to a very generous family of a young woman who had died, they granted permission for her lungs to be given to my friend. Although it didn’t save her life she was able to attend her son’s wedding and have special time with our two GC.

[Sunshine]

Good to hear your friend had a few extra years thanks to a generous family donating their loved ones lungs. The value of attending her son’s wedding and enjoying the grandchildren must not be under estimated. Well done you for signing up to be a donor when your organs are no longer any use to you. Thankyou xx

[Gemini]

Sunshine, do you think the organs of people in our age group would still be useful for transplant?

[Clover]

As Sunshine mentioned the opt out system is already in place here in Wales but before that we had signed up to be donors.It’s most important to discuss and decide these things with loved ones so if the unthinkable happened the decision would not be so hard.

[Sunshine]

Gemini, my son has looked into this. It is a question I have asked myself. The answer is definitely YES. There is no age limit on organ donation. Even having a medical condition does not necessarily rule out donation. There are some exceptions eg. CJD, Ebola, active cancer, HIV and probably some others. It is interesting that even someone who has had certain cancers can still be a donor, three years after treatment has finished. But never fear, the doctors won’t transplant unsuitable organs. One of the disadvantages for my son, who needs new lungs, is that many people of our generation have been smokers all our lives, so whilst some of our other organs may be useful, our lungs may not. PS I’m not a smoker! So go tell your family and friends and get them to jump on the donor band wagon.

[Sunshine]

Well done Clover. We are developing our own GransRUs organ donor list. It is refreshing for me to hear of people ‘on the list’

[Plantaholic]

I wondered about the age you could still be a donor too. I do hope your son is called soon Sunshine.

[Daisy]

Sunshine and I have talked about this, and it is so important. The lives of people waiting for organs are put on hold while they battle their illnesses, day by day, minute by minute. The term 'waiting' for a transplant is a bit misleading - their lives are centred on coping with each day, dealing with their illness and always hoping for that amazing phone call which will give them a chance of a full life again.

It's heartbreaking at the moment of losing a loved one to try to decide what their wishes would have been about organ donation. If as many people as possible make their wishes clear to their families valuable time can be saved.

Just one generous donation can help many people. Some years ago one of my students died of a severe asthma attack, she was 18 and had always said she wanted her organs to be donated. About 4 or 5 of her organs, including her corneas, transformed the lives of complete strangers. Even in their grief her parents found comfort in knowing that her wishes had been carried out and her generosity had given new life to so many others.

I've carried a donor card for years, and if there are any bits of my decrepit old body that are suitable for donation that's what I'd like to happen. Age isn't always a barrier. I'm boring O Rh+ blood group, but if you have a rare blood type you could be the one in ten thousand who could save a transplantee's life.

[Sunshine]

Thankyou Daisy. Well said. xx

[Mimi]

Sunshine I hope your son lets the call you are all waiting for.
In the case of DIL’s mum, the call came late on evening just as they were getting ready for bed. An ambulance was used to take her to the Royal Brompton London. DIL and her dad followed in their car .

[Daisy]

Mimi - there is the same urgency both for the donor and the recipient. The quicker the donated organs are made available the better the condition they will be in and the greater the chance of success. That's one of the reasons the change in the law is so crucial. I'm so glad your DIL's mum gained that extra precious time with her family and friends. xx