A double kidney transplant recipient has told how he almost died before his life was transformed with his second transplant.
Former Dundee City Council chief executive Alex Stephen, now treasurer of local organ donor charity Revival, was one of 130 recipients, family members of organ donors and health professionals who gathered to pay tribute to donors across Tayside.
The event, organised by NHS Tayside’s organ donation committee in conjunction with NHS Blood & Transplant, recognised the legacy left by donors and included an act of remembrance with a candlelit vigil and placing of roses.
Mr Stephen thought his life was over when he turned 40 and his kidneys failed. More than 20 years later, he is still going strong, after undergoing two transplants.
The first substitute organ failed after three or four years and he was back on dialysis before receiving his current organ that has been functioning for 14 years.
He puts his survival down to ”really, really excellent medical care” and added: ”I was very close to death when I had my second transplant. I was really quite ill and the transplant transformed my life.
”It’s unbelievable the difference it makes. When a person goes through an operation, normally they feel bad for a while afterwards but with a transplant you immediately feel better because all the toxins are gone from your body.
”I couldn’t eat cheese or drink coffee but as soon as I had the operation everything went back to normal immediately; you feel better and it really is a new lease of life.
”The ceremony was good because it brought together patients and donors, nurses and doctors who had treated us and it was very emotional. It was nice for patients to be able to acknowledge the benefits we have had from the transplants we received.”
At the Time to Remember service in Dundee University’s Chaplaincy Centre, led by David Gordon and Andrew Bennett of NHS Tayside’s Department of Spiritual Care, readings and reflections were given by committee chairman Dr Stephen Cole, who is also lead clinician for organ donation in Tayside, working in intensive care at Ninewells Hospital.
Dr Cole says apart from saving lives, signing up for the donor transplant scheme can also help grieving families cope with the difficult process of organ donations.
”It also makes my job so much more straight-forward when I have to go and speak to grieving relatives who have already gone through a very difficult situation and are possibly sleep-deprived.
”If they know already that their family member is an organ donor it makes it easier for them to deal with.”
Photo by Clive Gee/PA Wire