Lives changed by organ donations in Mid and South Essex
More than 8,500 people in the UK are currently waiting for an organ transplant, according to figures from NHS Blood and Transplant
The stories of people whose lives have been changed by organ donations are being shared by the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, as figures reveal around 400 people die each year or become too ill to receive a transplant before a suitable organ becomes available.
More than 8,500 people in the UK are currently waiting for an organ transplant, according to figures from NHS Blood and Transplant.
Jennifer Forster, from Hullbridge in Essex, is currently on dialysis in Southend Hospital's renal unit while she waits for a kidney transplant.
Three times a week she spends hours travelling to and from appointments and undergoing treatment.
She said: "People don't realise how much dialysis takes over your life. By the time you've travelled into hospital, had your treatment and got home again, it's about six hours out of your day. I feel like I've gone back to having a part-time job."
Now on the transplant waiting list, she hopes a donor kidney will give her back the freedom to spend more time doing the things she loves.
She said: "If you can give someone else the chance to live their life and enjoy it, I think that's a wonderful thing to do."
Janis Dowell, from Braintree, lost her son, Lee, in 2024, and organ donation has become part of her family's story.
Although they had never expected to face decisions about organ donation, it was something that they had discussed.
Janis was supported by specialist organ donation nurses from Broomfield Hospital who spoke with her about the option of donation.
Lee went on to donate two kidneys and his liver, helping three people.
Janis said: "Lee and I had talked about organ donation before, and he knew I supported it. He thought helping others in that way was a good thing to do.
“When the time came, I felt it was what he would have wanted because he was a kind man. If he thought he could help somebody to live, he would have done it. Knowing that his donation helped three people means his legacy lives on."
David Marchant, 60, from Grays, had a liver transplant in 2023 after living for almost two years with a rare liver condition.
He is a builder and a keen runner, and he said his health deteriorated so gradually he didn't fully realise how unwell he became until everyday tasks were becoming more difficult.
Following his transplant at Addenbrooke's Hospital, David faced a lengthy recovery.
Just over a year later, he was back on the athletics track competing at the British Transplant Games, where he won a bronze medal in the 1,500 metres.
More than three years on, David continues to attend regular three-monthly check-ups with transplant specialists from Addenbrooke's and Basildon hospitals to monitor his health and ongoing treatment.
Reflecting on the impact of organ donation, he said: "You appreciate every day a lot more, and you appreciate things that you probably took for granted before. I think it's an amazing gift. If you're not going to be here, you could save so many people."
Across Southend, Basildon and Broomfield Hospitals, specialist nurses from NHS Blood and Transplant work closely with intensive care and emergency department teams to identify patients who may be suitable organ donors. They support families through the donation process, ensuring any decision is made in line with patient wishes.
Lucy Chaplin, Specialist Nurse for Organ Donation based at Basildon Hospital, said: "When families choose to support organ donation, they create opportunities for others to live longer, healthier and more independent lives. Although no organ transplants take place at our hospitals, last year our team helped arrange 26 donations, leading to 71 lifesaving or life-changing transplants. Those numbers represent real people, real families and futures that might not otherwise have been possible."