Wiltshire heart-transplantee urging more people to register as organ donors
Lucy Ryan says we can help save multiple lives by registering
A Salisbury heart-transplantee is encouraging more people to register as organ donors.
Lucy Ryan, who had her transplant as a child, describes it as "the best gift you could ever give anyone".
Her call comes amid a push from the NHS to get more people registered as donors with waiting lists across the nation at record highs. In the South West, almost 600 people are awaiting a life-saving transplant.
"You can potentially save up to nine lives," Lucy said, adding: "You can donate tissue as well, cornea transplants, that kind of thing, so you can change multiple people's lives."
Her own transplant has allowed Lucy to live a normal life after a traumatic birth saw her left with a leaky heart valve. Despite having two major surgeries as a two year old, she eventually had a full transplant and has gone on to study at University and represent Team GB at the World Transplant games.
She told us that being on the donation register can ensure people's needs are met efficiently.
"If you are thinking about it or you think you would be in favour, tell your loved ones sign up to the organ donor register because that just makes it a lot easier for them because that's one thing doctors don't have to think about or try and work out what you would have wanted," Lucy said.
While it is rare that people with long-term illnesses donate organs, with many coming from those who have died more suddenly, Lucy says it can bring some comfort to the families who have lost loved ones.
"I know for the donor families I've spoken to, it can be kind of a little bit of something positive that comes out of something quite negative," she said.
As part of Organ Donation Week, the NHS is encouraging participating organisations to turn their buildings pink, in memory of the over 400 people who died last year waiting for a transplant.
The current waiting list is above 8,000 people.
Director of Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation, Anthony Clarkson, says people must have a conversation with their families about registering as a donor.
He said: "We are facing an incredibly concerning situation where more people than ever are waiting for transplants, but fewer donations are taking place. Tragically, someone will die today waiting for a transplant - we urgently need more people to register their decision to donate and to have these vital conversations with their families.
"Last year, 60% of people who donated after death were on the NHS Organ Donor Register, which made those conversations with families so much easier. People are far more likely to support donation when they know it’s what their relative wanted.
"To truly reduce the transplant waiting list, we need to take action across all aspects of organ donation and transplantation. That means modernising the NHS Organ Donor Register, having more clarity about what the law change really means and investing in innovative technologies that preserve and treat organs to improve transplant success rates."
We can join the organ donation register here.