stephen toppingA man who was inspired by his granddaughter to donate his kidney to a stranger said it was “surreal” to meet the person he donated his kidney to a year later.
Lurgan resident Stephen Topping decided to donate his granddaughter's organs after realizing she was suffering from kidney problems and might need a transplant in the future.
“I thought, if my granddaughter needed it, it would probably be from a stranger. So I thought, 'Why can't I do it for someone else?'”
Twelve months after getting a new kidney, Amy Smith, from south west England, traveled to Lurgan to meet Stephen and his family in person for the first time.
amy smithAmy said it was an emotional meeting.
“When my husband was checking in at the airport, I felt a little dizzy, but it was as if I had known Stephen forever,” she told BBC News NI.
“I'm really happy that I met my donor. I'm really happy that we can meet and keep in touch and become a big, happy family.”
Amy said she hopes both families will continue to stay in touch.
“I went back to myself, not me and my machine,” she added.
“You only need one kidney to lead a normal life, and donating just that one kidney can save so many lives.”
“Grandpa did something really nice.”
The Toppings held a party over the weekend to celebrate meeting Amy in person, with Stephen's granddaughter Georgia also in attendance.
She doesn't need a transplant right now, but she's grateful for what her grandfather did for her.
“What my grandfather did was really amazing, and he [did] It was really good because of what happened to me,” Georgia said.
“The first time I spoke to Amy on the phone, it was surreal hearing her story and it was surreal meeting her in person. That just makes it all worth it,” Stephen said. added.
amy smithDighty's Law was introduced in Northern Ireland in 2023 As a result, most adults in Northern Ireland are now considered eligible for organ donation after death, unless they opt out.
This law applies only to persons 18 years of age or older.
It is also possible to become a living donor, as was the case with Stephen.
The most common type is kidney donation. This involves removing one organ from a healthy person and transplanting it into another person.
Family members may not be suitable donors, and a kidney may be donated by someone who is not genetically related to the recipient.
Often, that donor can be a stranger, known as an altruistic donor.
How many people are registered as organ donors?
More than half of Northern Ireland's population chooses to become a donor and records their wishes by signing the NHS Organ Donor Register.
A total of 1,053,541 people have registered by May 2024.
With 55% of all residents saying yes, Northern Ireland has the highest proportion of people willing to donate of all regions in the UK.
The same registration can also be used if you wish to opt out of becoming an organ donor.
Not everyone is automatically considered a donor as there are several groups excluded from the law.
As of the end of June this year, there were 166 patients. Northern Ireland organ transplant waiting list.
Of those, 85 were on the kidney transplant list.
