As part of organ donation week NCIC has hosted two emotive events to celebrate and honour organ donors in Cumbria.
Funded by our North Cumbria Hospitals NHS charity, we held the first living donors event in Cumbria, giving thanks to a number of living donors.
Living donors are an incredible group of people who have chosen to have an operation to remove an organ while they are still alive and donate it to someone who needs it. Around 40 people attended and were a mixture of both donor recipients and organ donors.
Paul Caine was donated a kidney by his brother and both of them spoke at the event of their experience.
Paul said: “It’s an honour to be here with so many living donors it’s amazing what you have done. Every time I pick up my grandson who is 3 years old I remember what my brother did for me. What he did meant that I would be able to have these memories. Living donors should be on a pedestal and we should celebrate them nationally to celebrate and recognise these beautiful people.”
His brother Alan said: ”It wasn’t an easy decision and not one I took lightly but I had the support of my whole family. The donor team made it very clear that I could drop out at any time and I can honestly say doing it was better than winning the lottery. It meant Jo had a husband, his kids had a father and I had a brother. It also meant he could be my best man at my wedding. It’s the best thing I have ever done.”
All of the living doors in the room were given a small trophy in recognition of their sacrifice.
Julie Bestford was keen to explain that you do not have to be related to donate an organ. She said: ”I donated my kidney to my best friend Caroline Russell. It took me years to persuade her that I should though”
Sharon Uhrig is the Trusts donor liaison nurse she said: “It’s important that we raise awareness of living organ donation, there are currently 5000 people in the UK waiting for a kidney. The success rate for living donors is far higher than for those given in death. I feel very strongly that we need to share these stories and help people understand more about living donors.”
Dr Paul Mead Consultant in renal medicine at NCIC said: “This was really a celebration and a thank you for what the wonderful people here have done. It is amazing, you have decided to go through pain and have an operation and then the recovery from that operation to give the true gift of life and make a difference to another person. It really is very special and this is a way to say thank you for what you have done. You are wonderful fantastic people.”
We also opened the new organ donation memorial sculpture at West Cumberland Hospital, which commemorates those we have lost and gives hope to those who are waiting for a transplant.
Families of organ donors and recipients were invited alongside the organ donation committee to see official opening of the sculpture, named ‘the Thread’.
Michelle Castles is a local sculptor and the artist behind the amazing memorial. She said: “The sculpture is called ‘the Thread’ because we are all connected through our humanity. We are all tied to each other and it’s important that we have the feeling of community and connection. I was inspired by the personal stories of those affected by organ donation. Artwork is always a talking point and the purpose of this – whether you like it or not – is to start a conversation.”
John Braidwood received a heart transplant 5 years ago and he said:
“I was in hospital for 10 months – the freeman and I got really quite ill. Four times I was prepped for theatre for a transplant but the first three times the donor wasn’t suitable. The fourth time the family of a 26 year old British Army Soldier who died in an accident while on leave gave permission for his organs to be donated and I got his heart. I had been in hospital 10 months but after the operation 14 days later I was home.
“I feel is important for families of those who have donated organs to meet people like me who have benefited. I am proof that it was worth it. I have no restrictions on my lifestyle now, I’ve been up Hellvellyn, I was jet skiing on holiday this year, I enjoy a glass of wine. I am forever grateful to that young man’s family.”
Dr Mark Holliday, clinical lead for organ donation at West Cumberland Hospital, said: “The thinking was twofold really, we wanted to have a physical focus for those who have died and donated and for those who have received, and also to have something that could stimulate people into having a conversation.”
Sharon finished by saying: “It takes two minutes to sign up and you can save and make a difference to up to 9 lives. Organ donation is life changing people right now are waiting for all kinds of organs and the impact on their lives is huge.
“People can be in hospital for months waiting for a donor. The right donor means that they will be able to go home and live a happy and fulfilled life. I really want people to understand the importance of talking about your wishes because it makes it so much easier when we need to ask families who are grieving.”
We are encouraging everyone to record their wishes on the NHS Organ Donor Register
As well as having a conversation with your loved ones this is the best way to make your decision known.