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Organ donation is the act of giving an organ to save or improve the life of someone who needs a transplant. We ask journalists not to approach members directly.

Based in the U.K.we exist to encourage everyone to discuss their organ donation decisions with their loved ones as families are always consulted before organ donation can proceed by sharing stories of thise whose lives have been touched by organ donation Organ donation saves and improves thousands of lives each year, with even more lives improved by tissue donation. On 20 May 2020, the law around organ donation in England was changed to help save and improve more lives. You still have a choice whether or not you want to become an organ donor. Your family will always be asked to support your decision. So whatever you choose, it's really important that you let them know. Therefore by sharing people's experiences of how organ donation has touched their lives we hoe it will encourage everyone to talk about organ donation, remove the taboo and share their donation decisions with their next of kin. You are able to donate some organs while you are alive, for example; a kidney, or part of your liver. However, most organ and tissue donations will come from people who have died. Anyone can register a decision to donate their organs and tissue when they die, regardless of their age or medical conditions. To ensure that all donated organs are safe, the donor's medical and lifestyle history is assessed at the time of donation. Registering your organ donation decision takes just two minutes if you register online. https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/register-your-decision/

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01/11/2026

💙💗 HAPPY 9TH BIRTHDAY, SHARE YOUR WISHES! 💗💙

🎉 NINE YEARS. THOUSANDS OF STORIES. ONE LIFE-CHANGING CONVERSATION. 🎉

Today, we celebrate nine incredible years of Share Your Wishes, and we want to say one enormous THANK YOU to every single person who has been part of our journey.

💙 To everyone who follows our page.
💗 To everyone who likes, comments on and shares our posts.
💙 To our wonderful ambassadors and supporters.
💗 And, above all, to every person and family who has trusted us to share their stories.

Every story is unique. Some are filled with hope and joy, others with heartbreak, courage and loss. But each one reminds us of the extraordinary difference organ donation can make.

We are incredibly proud to have spent nine years sharing these stories, giving people a voice and encouraging conversations that really matter.

And our work is far from over.

With more than 8,800 people currently waiting for a transplant in the UK, the importance of talking to our loved ones about our organ donation wishes has never been clearer.

Because it’s not just about making a decision. It’s about making sure the people we love know what we want, so they can speak for us when it matters most.

Nine years behind us. So many more conversations still to begin.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for being part of Share Your Wishes. Here’s to continuing this journey together. 💙💗

Talking about organ donation isn't always easy, but it makes all the difference. Take a moment to with your loved ones today. Say and register your decision with NHS Organ Donation

31/10/2026

When Andrea’s baby daughter Ella became seriously ill, she could never have imagined the journey that lay ahead. At just a few months old, Ella desperately needed a liver transplant. Then, in the middle of the night, the call came that would change their lives forever.

Eighteen years on, Ella is not only living life thanks to the generosity of her donor family, but helping others through fundraising, Transplant Active - Home of the British Transplant Games and supporting causes close to her heart.

In Andrea’s words, we share Ella’s incredible journey — and a family’s everlasting gratitude for the gift that gave their little girl a future. ❤️

Ella was born on 7 September 2005 after a normal, full-term delivery. But in those early weeks, I knew something wasn’t right. She slept far too much, struggled with her feeds and regularly brought her milk back up. Despite taking her to the doctor several times, my concerns were initially dismissed. I knew I wasn’t suffering from post-natal depression — I was a mum who instinctively knew her baby was unwell.

Thankfully, a health visitor witnessed Ella’s difficulties and contacted the hospital. After numerous tests and hospital visits, we were eventually referred to Birmingham Children’s Hospital. Although doctors suspected a problem with her liver, they struggled to establish a diagnosis.

Ella continued to become unwell with infections, and by the end of April, her condition was deteriorating rapidly. We were told she needed an urgent liver transplant assessment.

After days of tests, Ella was placed on the transplant waiting list. Then, just five days later, at 11.50pm, the phone rang.

Pete, the transplant co-ordinator, told us there was a potential liver for Ella.

I was in complete disbelief. It was the middle of the night, we had another little girl at home, and suddenly we were preparing to make the two-hour journey to Birmingham with our tiny baby, hoping this would save her life.

We arrived shortly after 3am. By 8.38am, Ella was being wheeled into theatre.

It was a long, exhausting day of waiting. At 4pm, we received the wonderful news that the operation had reached its halfway point and everything was looking good. We were so grateful to everyone caring for our precious little girl.

Just after 8.30pm, we saw Ella being wheeled into intensive care. She was tiny on that enormous bed, surrounded by tubes, wires and monitors, but she looked pink and so much better than she had before surgery. Our little girl had been given a chance.

Ella initially made wonderful progress, coming off the ventilator after just 24 hours. Sadly, on day nine, she became very unwell again and was rushed back to intensive care. Doctors discovered a bile leak, and she needed another operation.

The following week was extremely difficult, but gradually Ella grew stronger. After two and a half weeks, she stood on her own two feet for the first time. Then came another unforgettable moment: her first taste of food. She ate a strawberry, and for the first time, it stayed down!

Seven weeks after arriving at hospital, we were finally able to take our baby girl home.

Over the years, there have been many ups and downs. Ella has battled serious infections, including E. coli septicaemia, undergone surgery to remove a growth on her neck, and continued to experience bowel and stomach problems. More recently, she has needed a PEG feeding tube to help with her poor weight gain.

Despite everything, Ella continues to amaze us. She takes part in Transplant Active and the British Transplant Games, and one of our most special memories was taking part in the Donor Run alongside Ella’s donor’s mum.

Ella is also always ready to help others. For her tenth liver transplant anniversary, we climbed Snowdon, and guess who was among the first to reach the top!

Through various fundraising challenges, including running the Great Orme in Llandudno, we have raised hundreds of pounds for Make-A-Wish UK, the Liver UK charity, our local children’s hospice and the Birmingham Children’s Transplant Games team.

Ella’s reason for supporting Make-A-Wish says everything about her. When asked why it matters, she simply says, “I’ve been there.”

We are so proud of the young woman Ella has become and of everything she does to help others.

But above all, we are eternally grateful to the courageous family who agreed to donate their loved one’s liver. Their decision gave our daughter the chance to grow up, make memories and live a life that might otherwise have been lost.

Over the years, our families have grown incredibly close. We do so much together, and we truly have become one family. It is something very special.

Eighteen years ago, a family’s generosity gave Ella the gift of life. Today, she honours that gift by helping others and showing just how much one decision can mean.

Forever grateful. ❤️”

Don't leave your family guessing. Say , about with your loved ones, and officially register your decision at NHS Organ Donation

31/10/2026

WE’RE ABOUT TO TURN NINE! 💗💙🎉

Nine years of sharing stories.
Nine years of touching hearts.
Nine years of encouraging conversations that could change lives.

And we couldn’t have done it without YOU! 🥰

Tomorrow, Share Your Wishes celebrates its 9th birthday, and we want to thank every single person who has been part of our journey.

Our followers. Our supporters. Our ambassadors. And every wonderful person who has trusted us to share their story.

Tomorrow is all about YOU! 💙💗

Having the conversation now is one of the kindest gifts you can give your family. Please about your choices. Say and register your choice with NHS Organ Donation

31/10/2026

When Natalie and her family lost their beloved son following a devastating brain haemorrhage, they made the courageous decision to donate his organs and tissue, believing it was what Sam would have wanted.

In her own words, Natalie shares the story of her happy, lovable little boy and how his final gift went on to change five lives.

A little boy gone far too soon, whose legacy of love lives on. 💙

“Sam was a happy, lovable eight-year-old boy. Although he was autistic, he thoroughly enjoyed school and loved being a member of Cubs. He enjoyed going camping and taking part in all the activities on camp. He also loved watching Derby County play football, but his main interests were Thunderbirds and trains.

In October 2004, we had just returned from a holiday in Blackpool, which Sam had thoroughly enjoyed. The highlight was seeing a giant Thunderbird 3 model on the seafront. Sam and Phillip insisted on going to see it every single day!

The day after we returned home, Sam became unwell. When he woke up, he complained of a headache and said he felt sick. He then collapsed in the bathroom, and we immediately called an ambulance.

Sam was taken to Derby Children’s Hospital, where he remained unconscious. While doctors were carrying out tests to discover what was wrong, he suffered a seizure. We were then told that he needed to be transferred to Nottingham for further treatment.

At Nottingham, we were told that Sam had suffered a brain haemorrhage and would need an operation. Tragically, he never regained consciousness afterwards.

We stayed overnight at the hospital, hoping and praying for a change, but by morning there was still no improvement. The doctor came to speak to us and explained that Sam was brain-stem dead and was unlikely to recover. We were then asked whether we would consider organ donation.

Everything had happened so suddenly that we had never even thought about organ donation. After taking time to consider it, we agreed, believing it was what Sam would have wanted.

We agreed to donate his heart, lungs, liver and kidneys, and these organs were successfully retrieved. Sadly, Sam’s heart was found to be unsuitable for transplantation because it had been damaged, but his heart valves were retrieved and preserved for future recipients.

Unfortunately, there was no suitable match for Sam’s lungs in the UK. A potential recipient was identified in Austria, but Sam’s lungs were still too small.

Although not every organ could be used as we had hoped, Sam’s gift went on to make an extraordinary difference to five lives.

His liver helped a 22-year-old man who was suffering from liver failure. His kidneys helped a 44-year-old woman and a six-year-old girl, both living with kidney disease and requiring dialysis.

Sam’s heart valves were stored and later helped two baby girls, aged just seven months and two months, who had both been born with congenital heart conditions.

Knowing that Sam had helped these people have a better quality of life brought us comfort during the most devastating time of our lives.

I can still remember sitting in a room waiting for the transplant co-ordinator to arrive. It had been a long, exhausting weekend, and while we waited, we even considered changing our minds about donating Sam’s organs. Looking back, we are so glad that we didn’t.

Since Sam’s death, we have become members of the Donor Family Network, which has given us so much support. We have attended family gathering days and Transplant Active - Home of the British Transplant Games, where we have made many new friends who understand what we have been through. We have also met some truly remarkable people whose lives have been transformed by organ donation.

Through making what we believe was the right decision for Sam, our little boy has helped five people have a better quality of life.

Sam was only eight years old, but his gift has made a difference that will never be forgotten.

We will always miss our happy, lovable boy, but we take comfort in knowing that, through organ and tissue donation, a part of Sam lives on in others.”

Your decision could save a life, but sharing it gives your family peace of mind. Please about with those closest to you, say , and register today with NHS Organ Donation

30/10/2026

In January Leanne’s mum Margaret marked her 11th anniversary since her second liver transplant.

Due to the immunosuppressant drugs Margaret took at that time her kidneys failed and in December 2016 Leanne donated a kidney to her Mum. Leanne shares their story:

“My mum was diagnosed with a liver condition called Primary Billiary Cholangitis (PBC) not long after I was born. Growing up it didn't really cause her any issues, but we were always aware that she may eventually need a liver transplant.

Fast forward to 2009, I was working full time and a single parent to 2 teenagers. My mum developed itchy skin (pruritus), the PBC was now causing trouble. She tried various medications to help with the itch, but it was so severe that nothing worked well. She was breaking her skin with scratching so much, and she wasn't sleeping so was always fatigued.

It was then that she was sent to the team at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh so they could take a closer look. Scans revealed that she had lesions on her liver. Hepato-Billiary Carcinoma, caused by the PBC.

At first, the team at Edinburgh rejected her for transplant as one of the lesions was bigger than what is accepted in the Milan Criteria for transplant. However, one transplant surgeon fought her corner, and it was decided to bring her in for transplant assessment.

At the end of assessment the multi disciplinary team decided to give her Chemo Embolisation to reduce the lesions and accept her for transplant. She was placed on the list and received her 1st liver transplant, a split liver shared with a child, in July 2011.

Its often a rocky road in the first year after transplant, meds have to be adjusted so lots of clinic visits. My mum often had rejection problems, sometimes requiring ATG which is a strong immunosuppressant. Infections followed due to the high immunosuppression, and she spent a lot of time in and out the transplant unit.

It soon got to the point where the liver steadily got worse, and it was decided that they would relist her for a second liver transplant. It was then that I decided to go through testing to see if I could donate part of my liver.

The tests to donate part of your liver are extensive and intrusive. They included biopsies, scans, bloods, psychiatric evaluation amongst other things. It was going well right up until the MRI, when my "plumbing" decided it for us. I couldn't donate due to the position of my vessels, and where they'd have to make the cut, it wouldn't leave me with enough liver to sustain me. We were back to waiting on the list, which is a difficult place to be. You are very aware that in order to receive life, someone must lose theirs.

Her call came once again, and in January 2014 she received her second liver transplant. Again things were rocky, but the team at Edinburgh kept a close eye on her, some rejection issues followed and meds were adjusted. Again some infections and problems with Potassium levels, but the biggest issue was with her renal function. My mum had a kidney removed years before her transplants, due to a tumour encased in one of them.

Her remaining kidney had started to lose function after her first liver transplant, which was closely monitored. One of the anti rejection meds, Tacrolimus, is very toxic to kidneys. (They did consider a kidney transplant at the same time as her second liver, but decided against it and instead monitored it closely with regular blood tests).

Her kidney function kept dropping though, and she also got steroid induced diabetes which required insulin injections.

By the end of 2013 her kidney function had fallen so low that she required dialysis. At first she tried peritoneal dialysis at home, but it wasn't effective enough so she had to switch to haemodialysis three times a week in the local hospital unit. I worried constantly at this stage. She was again fatigued, it was a cold winter, and she was driving a notorious road early in the morning to dialyse.

I spoke to the team in Edinburgh and this time offered up my kidney. I was informed I'd have to lose a significant amount of weight (5 stones) before the op to get my BMI below 30, so I got to work on getting fit by teaching myself map reading, then climbing Munros (highest mountains in Scotland).

My last Munro hike was in August 2016, where I climbed 5 mountains in one day and covered 20 miles. The team saw this effort, and I was put through all the tests to determine if I could donate my kidney. My kidney function was found to be excellent, and along with my new, accepted BMI it was decided we were good to go.

The donation and transplant went ahead in December 2016. We both had a textbook recovery, and spent the whole festive season recovering at my mum’s house watching films and having lovely naps.

Since then, despite having a lot of issues with infections, some serious, my mum’s liver and kidney function have been excellent. And now, almost 9 years on, my one kidney is functioning at the same level as someone my age with 2.
How amazing is that!

As an extra bonus, my daughter, after seeing the level of care we both received from the whole amazing team in Edinburgh, decided to go to Uni to train to be an adult nurse. As an extra special bonus, she has now graduated and soon starts working as a registered nurse.....on the very same transplant ward that her gran received 3 transplants, and her mum (me) donated a kidney.
You can read about my daughter here:

https://www.napier.ac.uk/about-us/news/caitlin-tervit-nursing-graduation-2025

We owe our lives to organ donation. To the whole fabulous team in Edinburgh. To the thoughtful families who made the decision to donate their loved one’s organs while grieving, and to the amazing donors who expressed their wishes to donate when they die, so that others may live. ❤”

Having the conversation now is one of the kindest gifts you can give your family. Please about your choices. Say and register your choice with NHS Organ Donation

30/10/2026

Ella and her sister Llinos are encouraging people to share their wishes in memory of their mum who went on to save lives

“A few years ago, we lost our beautiful mum. Although the pain of that loss will never truly fade, our family takes comfort in knowing that she allowed love to live on through others — by helping to save and transform lives through tissue and organ donation. 💗

Because of her incredible gift, we have become deeply committed to supporting local charities and NHS events that raise awareness about the importance of organ donation and the power of sharing our decisions with loved ones. I’m fortunate to do this alongside an amazing team of specialist organ donation nurses — including my wonderful auntie Abi — who dedicate themselves to this work every single day.

Recently, I joined the committee for The Gift of Life – Rhodd o Fywyd, formerly known as Cronfa Elen’s Fund. This NHS charity promotes open conversations about organ donation and supports bereaved families of organ donors. Its mission is close to my heart — it aims to help make ITU family rooms more comfortable, funding training for nurses and doctors, supporting special projects, and spreading awareness of organ donation and so much more!

I’m truly honoured to be part of this cause, and we’re now raising funds to continue this vital work — ensuring other families receive the same support and compassion we did.

💫 We believe it’s so important to talk about organ donation and to share our wishes with those we love. I personally believe that organ donation is the greatest gift of all. None of us can live forever — but perhaps we can help someone else live a little longer. 💫

If you haven’t yet added your name and decision to the NHS Organ Donor Register, please take just a couple of minutes to do so today:
➡️ https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/register-your-decision/donate/

Thank you so much for reading my story. We hope to continue raising funds for this very special charity — to honour my mum, to help other families, and to ensure that love and life continue to live on through donation.

🩷 The Gift of Life 🩷
Ella x

Don't leave your family guessing. Say , about with your loved ones, and officially register your decision at NHS Organ Donation

29/10/2026

We were deeply saddened by the passing of our dear friend Clair in March 2019. Clair was loved by so many within the transplant community, and her courage, infectious smile and determination to make the most of every precious day touched countless lives.

On this poignant day, as we remember Clair and to mark her transplant anniversary, we send our love to her husband, Jim, her daughter Lucy, and all their family and friends. We also remember with heartfelt gratitude the donor families whose selfless decisions gave Clair precious extra years with those she loved.

Clair received not one, but two life-saving double lung transplants, allowing her to experience moments she might never otherwise have had. Her daughter Lucy shares a beautiful tribute to her mum, the extraordinary gift of life she received, and the lasting legacy of love, courage and gratitude Clair leaves behind.

Lucy’s tribute to her mum

“Organ donation has never been more important.

Thousands of people across the UK are waiting for the most precious gift of all: the gift of life through transplantation. Behind every number is a real person, a family and a story. Every day, people wait in hope for a call that may never come.

Some will sadly die waiting, while others will become too ill to receive a transplant. Yet one donor can save or transform multiple lives.

That is why organ donation matters so much. One decision, one conversation, can make the difference between life and death.

On 12 March 2019, at 7.50 pm, my gorgeous mummy was finally at peace. Her struggle and fight for life were over. Holding both her hands, my amazing dad and I said our final words to my mumma.

Clair Hemmington wasn’t just my mum; she was my best friend.

When I was four years old, Mum was told there was only a small chance she would live to see me grow up because of her life-threatening lung disease, LAM (lymphangioleiomyomatosis).

But in February 2008, she was given a second chance at life through the most incredible gift: a double lung transplant.

From that day onwards, she fought and battled to make a difference with every precious day she was given. Her smile was infectious, her laugh was full of life, and her hugs were the very best.

Sadly, after holidays to Disney and birthday parties where she got to see her little girl dressed as a princess, Mum’s health took another turn for the worse. But in 2014, she was fortunate enough to receive a second transplant, thanks to the bravest and most generous man, Andy.

By sharing his wishes with his family and letting them know he wanted to donate his organs, Andy gave my mum the chance to watch me grow up.

I remember walking down the icy, deserted corridors of intensive care. I remember the beeping machines and the frightening sounds, but there, in the hospital bed, was my mum’s smile. She was weakened by the operation but so grateful for another chance at life.

Mum was never one to moan. She never asked, ‘Why me?’ and she never complained. She simply got on with living because she knew just how precious life was.

When I think of my mum, so many things come to mind: dancing in the car, endless shopping trips, stripy tops, anything Cath Kidston, cosmopolitan cocktails and countless cups of tea accompanied by lots of cake.

And, of course, that beautiful, infectious smile.

She was always so grateful for the precious gift of organ donation that had given her more time to live, love and be my mum.

I always knew Mum probably wouldn’t be there to see me get married, but I thought she would be able to see me off to university.

Although she isn’t here beside me today, I was lucky enough to have had 16 amazing years with her. She taught me so much about life and gave me the strength to cope with whatever came my way. Most importantly, she taught me never to resent life, but always to be grateful for it.

Whenever I’m struggling or feeling down, I look at her smile and remember her passion and determination. It helps me face whatever challenges life throws at me, knowing how hard she fought for the precious gift she was given.

The gift of life.

Organ donation will always be something I hold close to my heart. I urge everyone to talk about it, make their wishes known and make sure their families understand what they would want.

Those conversations really do matter. They can give another family more time, more memories and the chance to watch their loved ones grow up.

Please talk to your loved ones about organ donation. You never know whose life your decision might change.”

Talking about organ donation isn't always easy, but it makes all the difference. Take a moment to with your loved ones today. Say and register your decision with NHS Organ Donation

29/10/2026

Eleven years ago, Jenni received the Gift of Life through a life-saving liver transplant, and we give thanks to her donor, and their family, not only the for Jenni’s life that was saved, but everything that has followed.

There was the Gift of Love when Jenni met her husband, Chris, the joy of their beautiful wedding, and, in 2025, the arrival of their gorgeous baby boy, Elliot.

From facing a serious illness as a teenager to becoming a neonatal intensive care nurse, Jenni’s journey is a powerful reminder of what a transplant can make possible.

Jenni shares her story with us:

“I cannot express how much my liver transplant means to me. Without it, I would not be here as the person I am today.

I first became unwell in 1999. I was an active teenager enjoying dance, sailing, swimming, and singing. I became jaundice and my joints were so painful I had to be lifted into a bath by my parents to ease them enough to go to school. A blood test at the GP showed deranged liver function and I was rushed to hospital.

I underwent more tests including bone marrow biopsies, and no diagnosis was made so my parents sought a second opinion from Bristol Children’s Hospital who diagnosed Auto-Immune Hepatitis. I was transferred for treatment at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, a specialist centre for childhood liver disease. I was advised during my stay at Birmingham that one day I would need a liver transplant.

I was discharged on a regime of immune-suppression and steroid medications. These helped me to live a nearly normal life with energy levels returning. I went to university, completing a degree and a masters, and despite being tea-total, had a great university life!

After university, I took on my own business running a clothing boutique.

Unfortunately, it was during this time that my health started to deteriorate and being self-employed and working all hours was not sustainable. I moved to Bristol and worked in retail and office jobs.

My health continued to deteriorate, and I was suffering repeat infections that were hospitalising me. Each infection caused my liver to struggle more and in March 2015, I was listed for a liver transplant. I continued to work part-time and felt like I needed something to help me to progress into a career so started a master’s course in public health.

In September, I got my first transplant call. Sadly, the liver was not suitable for transplant, and I was sent home. Just a few weeks later, I received a second call. The call came just before midnight towards the end of October, and I was in theatre by 8am the following day.

The road to recovery was challenging. I suffered acute rejection and was treated with high dose steroids.

After 8 months, I started a phased return to work. Not happy in my office role, I felt that I wanted to do something to give back to the NHS that had cared for me for so long (and continues to do so). I applied for a Children’s nursing degree and was accepted. I began my training in January 2018 and although COVID delayed my course by a year, I graduated in December 2021 and began working as a Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse, a role that I absolutely adore. I have continued to study and am currently working towards a specialist neonatal qualification.

My family have always been the most amazing support network and have seen me through the challenges having Auto-Immune Hepatitis has thrown my way. They were there at my bedside throughout my transplant and recovery.

I met Chris in 2017, and he has been by my side helping me get stronger and adding to my incredible support network. We married in September 2022 in a beautiful Devon seaside wedding.

I have always known that I would like to have children however did not know how my health and transplant would affect this.

In 2025, we welcomed Elliot following a tough fertility journey and we are so besotted! Thanks to organ donation, not only has a life been saved and lived, but a new life has also been created and has brought such light into our world.

Thank you to all who have had the conversation with loved ones about organ donation, and please continue to have these conversations.”

Talking about organ donation isn't always easy, but it makes all the difference. Take a moment to with your loved ones today. Say and register your decision with NHS Organ Donation

29/10/2026

Five years ago, Becs received the life-saving gift of new lungs after a devastating illness left her dependent on oxygen and fighting for her future.

After a long and frightening wait during the COVID-19 pandemic, her transplant gave her the chance to breathe freely again and reclaim the life she thought she might lose. Today, Becs is living life to the full, celebrating her boys’ achievements, travelling, dancing around the kitchen and enjoying the simple things she once could only dream of.

As she marks five years since her transplant, Becs shares her incredible journey and why she will be forever grateful to her donor and her donor’s selfless family.

“Back in 2009, after a long period of illness and numerous missed diagnoses, I finally discovered that I had a respiratory illness called pulmonary disease caused by my exposure to caged birds when I was younger. I was 39 years old, with two children aged just four and two.

After months of medication, I was told my illness was chronic and something I would have to live with. For many years, that’s exactly what I did.

But everything changed in early 2019. Following a chest infection that developed into pneumonia, I spent several months recovering, only to discover that I had developed a second condition, pulmonary hypertension, which carried a life expectancy of around seven years.

This was no longer a case of simply living with my illness. Later that year, I was admitted to hospital and placed on oxygen 24 hours a day. Just like that, the life I knew changed dramatically, and not for the better.

While I was in hospital, the word transplant was mentioned. I had always been relatively stable, so transplantation had never been discussed with me before. I was terrified and kept the conversation to myself for a long time, but deep down I knew it might be my only chance.

My referral to Royal Papworth Hospital happened quickly, and in February 2020, I was told I could expect an assessment in around six weeks.

Then COVID-19 hit, and life had other ideas.

I shielded and waited. Fortunately, I was the first patient to return for assessment in June, but I had to do everything alone. So that’s what I did. I faced each appointment and each challenge as it came, because I knew I had to.

I was accepted for transplant and placed on the waiting list at the end of July 2020.

COVID-19 brought further heartbreak, with fewer organs available for transplantation. By the end of November, we were told that only the most urgent patients were being transplanted. It was incredibly hard, but with the outstanding support of my family, I kept going.

Transplants began to resume in early 2021, although numbers were still limited. My health was deteriorating, and the call I desperately needed still hadn’t come.

In August, I received my first call, but sadly, it wasn’t to be. It was a false alarm.

By October, I was requiring 10 litres of oxygen. I was beginning to run out of hope, but thankfully, my call came just in time.

Once again, I set off alone in the car, although my husband joined me at the hospital. After a ten-hour wait, I was given the go-ahead.

Sixteen hours later, I had been given my brand-new chance at life.

There were complications, and I was placed back into a coma, but I fought hard, both mentally and physically. Finally, on 13 December, I came home.

Life changed immediately, and it was, and still is, wonderful.

I never tire of taking a deep breath, walking upstairs, dancing around the kitchen or even having a shower. These everyday things that most people take for granted feel like extraordinary gifts to me.

Since my transplant, I have returned to work, travelled abroad, become a wife and, most importantly, become a mum again rather than a patient. I have watched my boys smash their GCSEs and A-levels and go on to university.

I have also had the privilege of speaking to the senior respiratory nurses at my local hospital, many of whom cared for me for years, to help educate them about transplantation from a patient’s perspective. It is incredibly rewarding and feels like a way of giving something back.

I can do all these things because of my hero, my donor, and the selfless decision made by her family to agree to organ donation. Their decision didn’t just save my life; it saved my family’s life, too.

I have written to my donor family, and they have written back to me. That connection means so much.

Five years on, I never forget the gift I have been given.

Transplantation is wonderful, so please consider organ donation and talk to your loved ones about your wishes. Your decision could give people like me, and thousands of others, a second chance at life.

I live every day to the fullest because my donor sadly couldn’t, and that drives me forward every single day.

No words of thanks could ever be enough.

My life is now like Christmas every day. ❤️🎄”

Having the conversation now is one of the kindest gifts you can give your family. Please about your choices. Say and register your choice with NHS Organ Donation.

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