A Belfast woman who received a life-saving transplant has urged people to consider adding the 'gift of life' to their Christmas lists and talk to their loved ones about their wishes for organ donation.
Claire Hogarth, 51, was born with a transposed aorta.
As she grew older, her health declined, but a transplant in 2003 enabled her to celebrate her 50th birthday last year. This is a milestone she never thought possible.
“I could only produce 25% of my oxygen and my breathing became very weak. Although I was able to attend regular school, I was often absent from school because I felt unwell,” she explained.
“By the time I was in my 20s, I needed a heart and both lung transplants and was put on the waiting list shortly after my father died of a heart attack.”
After a long hospital stay, Claire was on the transplant waiting list for four years due to three false alarms.
“Even though I was in a wheelchair and breathing oxygen 24/7, I remained very positive and never thought for a second that I wouldn't get the transplant. I received a phone call while I was in London for the weekend. I had my transplant on April 13th of that year, and it's a day I'll never forget.
“Since my transplant, I have been able to travel abroad, which I never thought I would be able to do. I went back to work, got married, my sister got married and started a family, and now we have kids. I saw it.
“This huge difference was only made possible by the generosity of my donors and their loved ones. The selfless act of donating a part of a loved one to save a stranger will never be forgotten by me. My donor was a 40-year-old woman who had a brain aneurysm, and I come here every year to remember them.
“When a person dies, they have two choices: bury their organs with them or use their organs to give someone else a chance to live.
“With a transplant, there's always the possibility of organ rejection, and there's always the fear that that might happen. If I ever needed another transplant, I would want to make sure I could get it.”
As of September 12, 2024, 155 people on waiting list for organ donation in Northern Ireland.
Only 50% of families agree to proceed with a donation if they don't know what their loved one wants, but this rises to 90% once they know the decision.
“A lot of people are happy to do it, but not everyone talks about it,” Claire says.
“It's really important that people have these discussions because even if the Daitis Act, which means you're automatically registered as a donor unless you opt out, in order for organ donation to go forward, Your family will always be asked to help. You will be listed on the Organ Donor Register. That's why it's essential that you let your family and friends know about your wishes.
“Organ donation is the most important gift ever. In a world full of greed, this gift doesn't cost a penny and will change a person's life.”
