Obviously I am slightly biased to the fact that I would love the UK to operate an opt-out system and I do really believe this could really work and change the lives of so many people. However, as pro opt-out as I am, I am trying to see both sides to the story and understand why people may be afraid or against organ donation.
One of the main problems is getting people to actually understand the facts of how organ donation works. Journalists such as Melanie Phillips who wrote this article are clearly scaremongering people, by feeding them with facts which are not even near the truth. More on that later...
There is also definitely not enough awareness about what actually happens when one decides to donate their organs, I think this is partly to do with the fact that it is a subject that can't be discussed casually round a dinner table; it's a taboo subject and people would rather not talk about it at all. The Government have proposed to put a lot more money in to educating people on this subject which is great, and they have also proposed that there be 100 more transplant co-ordinators which would double what we have now.
Health wise I am able to hold down a full time job (with a bit of give and take) and lead a good life. Dialysis 3 times a week is hard and leaves me feeling very unwell a lot of the time, but it's got to be done and I tend not to dwell on it. At least I can actually be kept alive without my vital organs unlike people who are in need of a heart, lungs or liver.
I was also lucky enough last week, in the midst of the opt-out debate, to go on BBC breakfast news with the inspirational Debbie Stoner to talk about my experiences with kidney failure and what I think about the proposed system. I only had a few hours notice from the BBC, and managed to qualm my nerves until I was ushered in to the tiny studio, miked-up and sat on the red sofa. Luckily all went ok. Click here to watch the interview.
I was also filmed for the 10 o clock BBC news the day before, where a cameraman and interviewer came to my office and filmed me talking about my experiences. They interviewed me for roughly an hour and asked me so many things from how I saw life in the future to how I was first diagnosed. I actually came away from the interview feeling quite emotionally exhausted, I didn't really expect to feel like this but I think it made me realise actually how desperately I want a kidney transplant...Oh and for those of you who were wondering, I actually work in a production office which is why I was holding a camera - I wasn't just let lose in the BBC studio! here is the link to that news piece.
On that note, I actually better do some work, but here is a link to a sport I think we should all take up.. Much more worthwhile than football.
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1 comment:
Great blog hun!
As you know I too am waiting for a kidney transplant and on HD. I also agree with the opt-out system...
Lets hope it becomes a reality and leads to more transplants!
keep up the good work...
take care
Holly x
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