A Dunfermline man who was given a second chance at life after suffering serious heart failure in 2004 is backing a Scottish Government scheme to promote life-saving organ transplants.
Peter McGeehan, 64, was desperately ill when a heart transplant turned things around for him. In the 10 years since his transplant, the father-of-two has thought about his donor every day.
He spoke out as new figures were released showing that the number of organ donors has risen by nearly 100% in six years.
The increase is being attributed to a coordinated nationwide effort over the last six years.
Peter had his first heart attack in 1992, aged 42, which damaged his heart muscles and put increased pressure on it.
In 2001 he had an automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator fitted however, his condition deteriorated, and with his heart enlarging rapidly, he was listed for transplant in 2004.
He said: “I had to go through a huge amount of rehabilitation and there are still limitations to what I can do, but because of my donor, I’ve been to Europe on holiday, I’ve seen my grandson Harry being born and I’ve watched my daughter get married.
“People take living for granted, but as I approach the 10-year anniversary I can honestly say there’s never a day when I’ve woken up and haven’t thought about my unnamed donor.
“People talk about unconditional love, and the one person who showed me that kind of love was my mother. That’s exactly what my donor did for me.
“Without meeting me, or judging me, that person donated life to a stranger, and I couldn’t be more grateful.”
Last year the Scottish Government published A Donation and Transplantation Plan for Scotland 2013-2020, which sets out the ways in which it hopes to improve donation and transplantation in Scotland.
Public Health Minister Michael Matheson said: “I want to offer my thanks to every donor and every donor’s family in Scotland who have demonstrated such kindness and benevolence in the face of tragic and difficult circumstances.
“It is our responsibility to ensure that people’s organ donation wishes are respected and to ensure that we make every donation count.”
Picture by David Wardle