Organ transplant and donor cards

Congratulations to your DH Alea and well done to the family who made the very brave decision 19 years ago!

Many people will know that my mum is a kidney dialysis patient , although she will never be considered for a transplant as she has too many other health issues to consider. The amount of people who's lives are run around the dialysis unit is unbelievable until you see it with your own eyes. Young people with families having to spend half their lives hooked up to a damned machine to keep them alive and then the fortunate few who are given their life back due to a someone, somewhere giving them the gift of life.

I would like to echo Alea and say if you do not already carry a donor card or have not registered yourself as a donor, please consider doing so.

I lost my donor card with my wallet a couple of weeks ago. When I was applying for a replacement driving licence, there was an option to have the fact that you are a registered donor on your licence. What a good idea! I thought I'd flag that up here then others who have to renew their licences have that option as well.

When I first registered as an organ donor, the application stressed how important it is to make your nearest and dearest aware of your wishes at the time of your registering. That's worth flagging up too.

I've still got my original card which I signed in 1975 as well as the modern plastic one which I carry. All of my family are aware of my wishes.

How wonderful for your DH to have been given so many extra years to enjoy his family.

I registered on line some years ago and have been carrying a card in my purse for years. Not sure which bits of me would be suitable when the time comes .......
I would urge everyone to register

Wonderful Alea.

Isn't it time the UK (and my country) also decided to do what so many countries have done, and change the system to opt out, rather than opt in?

People who opt out should also be told that they are opting out of being a recipient too!

Like others I have a donor card with me all the time, have had it for years, a bit tatty now. Not sure if any of my bits would be useful all a bit work and torn, but I would hope that if anything could be used, then it would be.

When DS was fatally injured in a road accident, surgeons operated twice to try to save her life. When it was clear that death was inevitable they spoke to my parents about organ donation. At first DPs could not bear the thought of their beloved daughter having still further surgery, even though she would be dead when it happened, but when they looked in DS's handbag they found an organ donation card. As a result her liver kidneys and corneas were donated. the kidneys to two young men. The liver to a 15 year old girl.

I have often wondered how they faired after the initial success of their transplants. Hearing your DH's story Alea I hope those who benefited from my DS's organs have done as well. This Easter is the 25th anniversary of her death.

Wales adopted the opt-out system on 1st December last year.

Good for Wales! There's talk of it in Scotland too, although I think it hasn't got very far, unfortunately. My family know that if any bits of me are useful I am happy to have them used. I do have a donor card, but find the idea of the current opt-in register a bit sinister, for some reason.

When my dear husband died very suddenly all his organs were donated. So some good came out of our unbelievable shock and terrible sadness.

I've carried my card for years and have also registered online. I think the system in Wales is the best idea. It's brave families like yours Rascal who enable families like Alea's to live on.

rascal - thank you.

It is so much harder of course with children- and yet- absolutely anyone I know who has lost a child after watching them slowly decline over a long period of time- is in favour of an opt-out system. Losing a lost one, at any age, but especially a child, is devastating in the extreme. And yet, even though I can't imagine the pain, knowing that other children would have been saved by donation, would be of such comfort.

granjurra, it was all we could do.

Congratulations to your DH Alea and well done to the team - was that in the fairly early days of liver transplants here?

I have a card but I'm not sure if my organs would be ok (not a joke, a serious consideration).

The first UK liver transplant was in 1968 and the Royal Free started in 1988, so quite a few years earlier than DH's op. In the early years survival over a year was considered good going, but now there are survivors of transplants from over 20 years ago and as far as rejection is concerned, DH's liver has been behaving well. Unfortunately the original disease which attacked the old liver Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis has returned to attack the new liver , but as yet, not too aggressively. He has other serious problems though and struggles at times, but is still here!

It's so important to think about signing Organ Donation register, there is a great shortage and people are dying. My husband had kidney failure and needed a transplant. We were lucky I was a match and we didn't have to wait, but not everyone is as fortunate.

My late DH and myself had an extra 19 years of relatively normal life thanks to the goodness of the parents of a road fatality who donated their son's kidney.
Unfortunately he succumbed then to bowel cancer.
I carry a card and am on the register. (Don't think I'd recommend my liver though!)

Maybe once the new system in Wales has been in for a while, England will follow suit.