A FIFE woman who received a heart transplant said she was "grateful that my donor made that choice to allow me to still be here today”.
Angela Gray attended the NHS Fife board meeting alongside Jane and Neil Robertson, whose daughter's tragic death led to the gift of life for three people.
They shared their stories with the aim of encouraging others to register as an organ donor.
Mrs Gray said: “Now that I’m post-transplant, I absolutely embrace life and enjoy all the things I love to do."
She described a life full of adventures with her labrador, walks, sports and more: “I would encourage everybody to be open and honest with your family about your wishes.
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Mrs Gray, who lives near Auchtermuchty, said she had lived a normal life up until she was 32 when she was told she had heart failure.
She had a pacemaker and implantable cardioverter defibrillator installed to regulate her heartbeat. However, in 2022 it began firing repeatedly - a sign that her heart was truly failing.
Mrs Gray was admitted to hospital where her defibrillator restarted her heart three more times. She was placed on the urgent transplant list.
“I honestly, genuinely thought I was going to die in hospital,” she said. “I didn’t think I’d make it.
"I got up the next morning and they had found me a heart. I was extremely lucky.”
On the other side of the coin, the Robertson’s shared their story as the parents of an organ donor. In 2018, they lost their daughter, Louise, after a tragic fall.
They were told her brain stem was severely damaged and she was completely unresponsive. That’s when doctors asked her family about organ donation.
“She had changed names and moved house so many times that she’d actually said yes to organ donation five separate times,” Mrs Robertson explained.
“There was no way we were going to go against that. She said yes five times, that was it. That was her decision.”
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The Robertson’s now keep in touch with all three organ recipients, which they said makes their loss more bearable.
The man who received Louise’s pancreas and kidney still message from time to time saying he’s fine, happy and blessed to see his grandchildren.
“It makes a big difference knowing they’re still here,” Mrs Robertson said. “If you can save somebody else that’s just great. It makes you feel a bit better.”
NHS Fife’s medical director, Dr Christopher McKenna, said: “The changes in organ donation means that all adults are seen as willing to donate their organs, unless they opt out or are in one of the excluded groups.
“However, many don’t realise that families will still be approached before any donation goes ahead.
“We want everyone to understand the law around organ donation, the choices available to them, and highlight the importance of sharing their decision.
"This is so families can be certain they knew what their loved one wanted. So please take time to talk to your friends and family about your wishes.”
To register your donation decision, or to find out more, visit: www.organdonation.scot
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